ABORIGINAL CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING
Culturally Safe • Supportive • Engaging • Inclusive
WINGARU BUTABUTA
Thinking Together
Wingaru is a Dharug word meaning 'to think' and Butabuta a Dunghutti
word meaning 'together'.
Wingaru Butabuta is a cultural awareness training program designed to
support organisations seeking to improve their cultural capacity through a
shared understanding and sensitivity to the issues Aboriginal People
experience, both today and in the past. Cultural awareness training seeks
to recognise, appreciate, understand and accept cultural differences in
the workplace. It is designed to strengthen organisations, their teams and
the services they offer.
Benefits of Cultural Awareness Training
Shared understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and the issues they face.
Increased cultural sensitivity among staff.
Improved workplace culture and relationships.
Better servicing of Aboriginal clients and customers.
The fostering of improved communications internally and externally.
An increased capacity to work better and more efficiently with others.
Our Services
Our experienced team offers the following services:
- Cultural Awareness Training
- Consultation on culturally appropriate education resources
- Creation of culturally appropriate educational content
- The creation of culturally inclusive programs for your organisation
- Reconciliation Action Plan development
- Onsite consultation for schools, early childhood organisations and
out-of-school-hours care providers - Mentoring and coaching
- Flexible training that can be delivered online or face-to-face
Our Mob: Meet Our Facilitators
The Wingaru ButaButa program was developed by experienced educators Tricia
Wallace and Cynthia Younie. Between them, Tricia and Cynthia have been
delivering cultural awareness training for almost three decades.
Patricia Wallace née Webb
Patricia Wallace is a Dharug woman who grew up in the Blue Mountains of
NSW. Having spent her childhood playing in 'The Gully', a place of
seminal importance to local Aboriginal people, and being taught stories
and culture by her father and aunts, Tricia has always had a strong
connection to her culture.
Tricia's mother passed on a love of education to her daughter. She
encouraged Tricia to become as educated as possible and to use her
education to share culture and knowledge, because it is only through
sharing knowledge that we can educate each other.
Tricia has over 30 years of experience delivering services and programs
to Aboriginal communities, and over 15 years' experience delivering
cultural awareness training to both government and non-government
organisations.
Tricia's qualifications include Bachelor of Education majoring in
Aboriginal Studies; Diploma in Community Servicing; Diploma in
Aboriginal Mentoring, and Certificate III in Workplace Training and
Assessment.
Cynthia O'Brien-Younie
Cynthia O'Brien-Younie is a Dunghutti woman from the Mid North Coast of
NSW. Cynthia is one of 12 children and grew up in a large family, which
fostered a deep pride in both her culture and identity.
Cynthia is passionate about sharing her culture and knowledge to support
the development of a shared understanding among Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal people. She believes that through education comes
understanding and through understanding comes acceptance.
Cynthia has over 38 years of experience across the private and public
service supporting Aboriginal People and working with government to
improve services for Indigenous communities.
Cynthia is a qualified facilitator with over 13 years' experience
delivering cultural awareness training to both government and
non-government organisations.Cynthia's qualifications include: Diploma
in Aboriginal Mentoring; Diploma Aboriginal and Community Services;
Certificate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural
Competence; and Certificate III in Workplace Training and Assessment.
What Participants Say about our training…
“ The Wingaru cultural awareness training was very informative and eye-opening. It was also more in-depth than previous training we received.”
— Kelly – Tempe OOSH
“Wonderful training. It was thought provoking, encouraged questions, and will impact positively in the corporation.”
— Jacqui – Slalom Australia
“I would definitely recommend this training to others. I think every company in Australia should have this awareness.”
— Cassandra – Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services