Across artforms, career levels and language groups.
Engage in a diverse cohort to learn in a supportive group environment.
Diversity and access: leadership program
The Australia Council encourages applications from people who identify as First Nations, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and people living in regional and remote areas.
We actively work with individuals to support access needs – including childcare, cultural practices, financial and/or learning access needs as required. We encourage applicants to contact us via phone or email to discuss further. Learn more about diversity in leadership.
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Custodianship Program FAQs
The Custodianship Program is designed by First Nations leaders for First Nations leaders to transform sustainability in culture, practice, community and the arts. The program brings together 12-15 First Nations participants to take part in a twelve-month program from February 2020-November 2020. The first year will be the pilot of the program.
The Custodianship Program is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, arts workers and cultural practitioners from across art forms and Australia. The program will encourage participants who are at various stages of their careers and are ready to reflect on their skills, capabilities and what leadership and custodianship means to them. The program encourages learners who are open to new ideas, able to learn in a group situation and an ability to share knowledge and insights with others. Participants who have roots with their custodianship responsibilities and want to learn more about enacting a vision for their communities.
The Custodianship Program has three residentials:
- – 6-11 February 2020
- – 14-19 May 2020
- – 5-10 November 2020
The residentials are compulsorily so please make sure you can attend all three residentials. Please allow travel time on either side of the residential.
The Custodianship Program will have four online/phone sessions:
- – 30 January 2020
- – 7 May 2020
- – 29 October 2020
These dates may change but we will notify participants in advance if so. If you have access requirements, please get in touch so we can assist you.
The program will include:
- – three intensive residentials. Each residential runs between 4–5 days, held in various locations around Australia including but not limited to urban, regional and remote location.
- – four online/phone sessions to reconnect and explore topics in more depth.
- – peer-to-peer engagement throughout the duration of the program.
- – access to ongoing opportunities through our Leadership Alumni program, including potential collaborations and secondments.
- – participation in group work to deliver a project at the end of the program.
- – ongoing participant engagement via an online platform.
Participants of the program will:
- – transform their own leadership by building on strengths and exploring what custodianship and leadership means to them
- – learn about First Nations ways of guiding and apply practices that have been cultivated over thousands of years
- – develop practices and knowledges through the study of both contemporary and cultural knowledge systems
- – expand skills and capabilities to effectively lead in both a First Nations and non-First Nation contexts
- – build a broader network and ongoing relationships cross cultures, sectors and industries.
The Australia Council will cover fee and travel cost associated with the Custodianship Program.
The facilitation is led by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. The lead facilitator has a deep knowledge in guiding First Nations leadership development.
To support and grow the facilitation of the program, a collective of co-facilitators will work together to deliver aspects of the program. This collective approach will also bring diversity of thinking (including non-Indigenous, if required) that will in-turn, benefit participants.
The program will aim to create deep cultural meaning. To enrich the participants learning process further, an Elder in Residence will be engaged to provide cultural guidance throughout the program.
An Elder in Residence has been appointed to provide support during both the design and the delivery of the program.
Please feel free to contact Ian RT Colless, First Nations Project Officer, Capacity Building who is coordinating the Custodianship Program. Ian has been working closely on the program’s development for the past year.
You can contact Ian by phone or email – details below.
Phone: 02 9215 9059
Mobile: 0435 781 891
Email: I.Colless@creative.gov.au
Toll-free: 1800 226 912