The Milparanga Emerging Leadership program – an 8-day leadership development program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the early stages of leadership – is currently open for applications.
Delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, the program aims to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in a culturally safe place to engage in conversations, and projects, that explore collaboration and develop leadership knowledge and skills.
Participants can expect to hear stories from Indigenous leaders, visit culturally significant sites to learn about Indigenous history and legacies, and meet and hear stories from other Milparanga graduates. Milparanga also involves outdoor activities.
Milparanga Program Manager and facilitator Grant Cameron says participants can expect to be pushed outside of their comfort zone with activities that help them to grow self-awareness and build communication skills to make a positive impact in their communities.
“Participants will ultimately build their skills and networks to influence change in their communities,” he said.
“As a previous participant, I know first-hand the value of participating in this culturally safe program. Facilitated by Indigenous educators, it explores leadership practices and creates a network of more than 350 graduates across the country to call on and support you into the future.”
Past graduates say Milparanga has generated ambition and a specific vision to take back to their communities and now know how to make a meaningful impact.
2021 graduate Areetha Fay-Tull from Mount Morgan in Central Queensland says the people she met on the program not only encouraged and inspired each other to do more but became lifelong friends.
“It’s a lot more than leadership. You’re building yourself up, you’re stepping outside your comfort zone, you’re creating friendships and a foundation to actually stand on,” she said.
“And that’s what this program is about. It’s about inspiring others to do more, to do better.”
The program is fully-funded via 23 scholarships from partners, including the National Indigenous Australians Agency. Applicants aged 21 years and above and who live and work in rural and remote communities are encouraged to apply.
