Bridging the Gap Seminar

Who attends the seminars/workshops?

The seminars and workshops are designed around the needs of both Balanda (non-Aboriginal people) and Aboriginal people and how they can work together more effectively. Anyone wanting to know more about the effects of culture and language on the interactions between different groups of people will find these workshops of great interest.

Attendees at these seminars include professionals who work with, or who are intending to work with Yolngu in north-east Arnhem Land, or any other group of Aboriginal people. These professionals include:

• Doctors, nurses, counsellors, psychiatrists, hospital staff and administrators
• Teachers and teaching aides, university and TAFE lecturers and staff
• Community administration and service personnel
• Anyone working in private enterprises with Yolngu or Aboriginal people
• Researchers, students and lecturers, looking for real live issues at the interface where cultures and languages collide
• Police, lawyers, magistrates, court officials and legal counsellors
• Drug and alcohol workers/counsellors
• Those involved in the mining or other industries on Aboriginal land.
• Politicians who are interested in developing real policies that work for the good of the country and Aboriginal people
• Public servants from local, state and federal government agencies and departments, including those dealing specifically with health, education and welfare who are looking at why things do not work and what policies will work
• Community development workers, community educators or anyone interested in the development of Indigenous people
• Aboriginal people wanting to know more reasons behind why their people are still in crisis

Topics Covered in the Seminars

Quotes About the Seminar

History of Seminars

Coming to Darwin

Coming to Nhulunbuy

Seminar Enquiries

 

 

Other attendees include

Members of the general public who want to:

• Know why “the problems” seem to persist on Aboriginal communities
• Gain a greater understanding the real issues involved in reconciliation
• Learn more about Yolngu culture and learn more about the colonial frontier history of Arnhem Land from the ancient people’s perspective
• Obtain answers as to the plight of indigenous peoples around the world
• Be open to learn more from a culture that is thousands of years old

Many Yolngu attend the course wanting to learn how the Balanda world works. These people get a lot out of these workshops even though it is hard work for them because most of the interaction in the workshop is in English, which is a fifth or sixth language for them.

The presenter, Richard Trudgen, will share with you almost 30 years of experience, looking at subjects in the areas of human dynamics, culture and law that are not taught anywhere else. Knowledge that has come from working at the interface between Yolngu culture and the dominant culture across a wide range of issues.

Anyone interested to learn will find these workshops extremely interesting.