Indigenous Management Training

Charlie Perkins Trust

Roberta Sykes Foundation

Miwatj Program - History	Miwatj Program - Delivery	Miwatj Program - Testimonials
Miwatj Program - 2008 Modules	Miwatj Program - Final Report	Miwatj Program - More Information
Pilbara Program - Development

Miwatj Management Development Program (MMDP) - History

Preliminary research undertaken by the Aurora Project in 2007 demonstrated a significant gap between the demand by Indigenous managers for highly effective management skills and the supply of rigorous and comprehensive management training. AGSM Executive Programs worked with the Aurora Project to design and deliver management programs to fill that gap.

Funding for the pilot program and Modules 1-3 (2008) was provided by:

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)

Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund

Rio Tinto Alcan

The Becher Foundation

The Minerals Council of Australia

Morawetz Social Justice Fund

The Scully Fund

Funding for Module 4 (2010) was provided by:

DEEWR

FaHCSIA

Rio Tinto Alcan

The Becher Foundation

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Miwatj Management Development Program - Delivery

The content in each module was delivered through a series of activities, computer simulation exercises, group discussion, participant presentations and feedback. There was a strong emphasis on practical skills and learning through experience.

The program concluded with presentations of project plans, identification of resources to put plans into action and individual action steps.

Delivered in Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, the Miwatj Management Development Program was specifically designed for, and in consultation with, Indigenous managers to meet their specific requirements. It comprised three modules of three days each in 2008 and a fourth module in March 2010.

Following the completion of the third module in October 2008, executive coaches were found for ten of the participants. The coaches worked with the participants on applying the skills and concepts introduced during the three modules.

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Testimonials from previous Miwatj participants:

“I’d honestly have to say that the whole program far exceeded anything I’ve previously done. Well done to all concerned, a great concept to bring to Arnhem Land, and congratulations to everyone involved. This program has given a lot confidence to those who attended.“

“I am so grateful to be involved in this program, and from discussions with other participants I can see the value that this program can have for others in the region. Big thumbs up for me!”

“I got to work with another lot of Yolgnu people both young and old. It was great to see the younger ones getting up and giving it a go – we shared a lot of information about ourselves and about our organisations and I think that in a way this program will help us achieve our goals… I would like to see more programs like this happening in our communities in the near future.”

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Modules

Module 1: Project management in a cross-cultural environment (27-28 May 2008)

Module 1 involved first an introduction to key business concepts and the theory of project management. This was followed by computer simulation exercises based on a real example where participants practised managing projects and making decisions.

The lessons from the simulation were then discussed in relation to the participants and their workplace.

Module 2: Business skills for managing projects and organisations (15-17 July 2008)

Module 2 focused on the financial skills involved in planning, budgeting and decision-making. Participants had the opportunity to practise these skills through computer simulations based on a real example.

The lessons from the simulation were then discussed in relation to the participants and their workplace.

Module 3: Working for the future, generating business ideas and putting them into practice (30 September-2 October 2008)

Module 3 looked at working for the future by generating ideas, discussing the viability of the ideas, understanding the resources required to make things happen, and how to put plans into action.

Module 4: Refresher program (15-17 March 2010)

Module 4 focused on revising and applying skills learned during the first three modules.

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2008 Miwatj Management Development Program - Final Report

Download the Final Report [PDF 365kb]

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More Information

For more information about the Program please contact us on (02) 9469 8100 or you can email us here.

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Pilbara Program

The Aurora Project is currently undertaking a needs analysis into a proposed management development program in the Pilbara for 2010. For more information please contact us on (02) 9469 8100 or you can email us here.

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