They came with open minds. They left with full hearts….
From across Australia, Centre Directors, Operation Support Managers and the Senior Leadership Team from Green Leaves Early Learning participated in their annual professional development conference. The timing aligned to bring everyone together to launch the Green Leaves National Reconciliation Action Plan. The conference was held in Uluru, the heart and centre of Australia, during NAIDOC week.
The conference presented the team with a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of Indigenous perspectives and practices, enriching their collective knowledge and encouraging connectedness and collaboration.
At Green Leaves, we believe that professional and personal growth is achieved through experiences that are immersive and intentional. The conference agenda was jointly developed by Kirsten Berry, National Operations Manager, Tracy Kittle, Head of Marketing, and their partners from the National Learning, Research and Development Program (NLRDP), NLRDP Lead Partner, Dr Karen Grubb, National Indigenous Perspectives Partners, Domonik Lowe and Kimmi Tupetagi.
Across the four days, Centre Directors and the leadership team participated in a variety of activities centered around the concepts of yarning, learning, un-learning and re-learning. The concept originated from an insightful essay about listening and learning from Aboriginal elders. This included sessions with local Anangu people, multimodal learning sessions, team building in the forms of traditional Indigenous games as well as guest speakers.
The team challenged their dexterity, physical endurance and creativity throughout the conference.
The time spent together, ‘yarning’, challenging perceptions, taking part in creative endeavours, reflecting, discovering, sharing in a safe space with authenticity and listening with humility, truly strengthened team bonds and solidified trust in each other, as a unified team.
Our NLRDP partners lead the team through a series of deep-thinking sessions. Challenging conventions, Dr Karen Grubb shared Shelley Reys’ AO insights about delivering an Acknowledgement of Country that is meaningful and simple to ensure this important cultural practice continues to be a powerful moment to honour and connect with our First Nations’ Culture and Country.
National Nutritional Program Partner, Nimmi Kumar, shared how, as Educators, we can nourish connections and embrace Indigenous ingredients through culinary pedagogy. We also had a number of our own team members share their personal and powerful stories that shaped their lives as Indigenous Australians.
The reflections from these stories will remain with its audience for a time to come. Such is with Centre Director, Stacey, “(What) a magnificent start to an incredible journey of continuous cultural awareness and learning, as we endeavour to pave the pathway to true reconciliation for future generations. The phenomenal connections, unity and appreciation we experienced together will forever hold a significant place in my heart.”
With the support of Maruku Arts, an Anangu-owned art centre, each attendee had the opportunity to understand Anangu dot paint artwork and symbols, see it created, and discover their own journey and story through the creation of their own dot painting.
It’s every leader’s aspiration to see their team challenge themselves and grow in the same direction while supporting one another. This is especially so, for Ms Berry, Green Leaves’ National Operations Manager.
“As the sun rose with the cold air that invigorated our souls, and our minds, we learned the importance of connections, both to Country and each other.
I look forward to the future as we walk alongside each other as One Team, leading the way as we embrace innovation and collaboration in Our Journey Towards a Better Future,” said Ms Berry.
Hayley, Centre Director said, “I left Uluru feeling inspired, connected and committed to continue my own journey to reconciliation and the importance my role holds to share my newly acquired knowledge with my team and families, the wider community and in my personal life too.”
During the conference, the team had the opportunity to soak in the beauty of Uluru during a morning of exploration.
In addition to the wonderful speakers from the NLRDP partners, Green Leaves invited Thomas Mayo, as a guest speaker. An author in his own right, Mr Mayo has more than twenty years of experience in leadership and advocacy, including the development of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. He passionately and eloquently spoke about how we can be better partners to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
At the end of the conference, the team went home with the most profound admiration for one another, and a very deep respect for culture, tradition, and a force propelling them forward with a renewed sense of purpose, urging them to interweave their new learnings into the fabric that makes up their Green Leaves communities.
Centre Director, Vanessa, shares this sentiment, “One of the things that resonated with me during our trip to Uluru was the changing colours of Uluru depending on the time of day and how the sun reflected on the rock. It made me think of how we are all different depending on the time of day, and where we are within each day.”
Mark McDonald-Smith, Chief Executive Officer, said, “It was inspiring and an honour to be a part of the conference. Leading a team that embodies authenticity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to learn and be changed is a privilege.
These traits create a culture where every team member feels connected, safe, valued and empowered. Equipped with our newfound knowledge and a growth mindset, I believe that, together, we’re paving the way for a bright and inclusive future.
As we lay the plans for the 2025 Centre Director Conference, I’m excited, because I know that there’s so much more to come!”
Palya!
