Cultural immersion training for cadets a life-changing experience
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Cultural immersion training for cadets a life-changing experience
19 October 2018
Captain Greg Howard, Flying Padre in Katherine, NT, took three cadets to a remote indigenous community 350km from Katherine, where they ran a children’s program.
A week of Indigenous cultural immersion training for all Australian Salvation Army cadets took place from 29 September to 7 October. The cadets were divided into groups and sent to four different locations: Brisbane, Katherine, Melbourne
“The aim of this training is for cadets to listen and learn in order to gain a better understanding of our indigenous community and to effectively minister to and walk alongside them,” said Major Deborah Robinson, Head of Campus, Assistant Training Principal and Academic Program Officer-School for Officer Training-Bexley North, Eva Burrows College.
Sydney NSW
In Sydney, Shirli Congoo and Sue Hodges – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministry and NSW and ACT Divisional Engagement Coordinators respectively – facilitated the cultural immersion training.
Sue described the week’s experience as “deadly!”.
The group toured significant Indigenous sites in Sydney.
Shirli explained that the training was an important starting point, and there remained much yet to be done.
“This training was to promote an awareness of historical, cultural and contemporary issues impacting our people from the time our ways were interrupted by
“The hope was to assist cadets to be respectful, understanding, supportive and responsive to our people through ministry, social programs and their general areas of influence.
“There is a fear of getting engagement wrong but we reinforced that building their cultural competence is a journey, not a destination, and learning is continuous as each of our Aboriginal nations and Torres Strait Island communities are unique in their own way.”
Katherine NT
Seven cadets spent their immersion training in Katherine, 300km south of Darwin, with Corps Officer Captain Julie Howard and Flying Padre Captain Greg Howard.
The group spent time with community members, mostly the homeless or “long grassers” as they are called, who came into the Doorways Hub drop-in
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Learning and
Indigenous elders, renown cultural consultant Miliwanga
“Mili shared a remarkable story of her origins and the deep spirituality that has
Captain Greg flew three cadets out to Amanbidji Station, a remote indigenous community 350km from Katherine, where they ran a children’s program for the young people there.
“Having the cadets was a great blessing to us,” said Captain Julie. “For some, it was the first real encounter with Indigenous people. We have made eight new friends who have gone back enthusiastic about this ministry.”
For the cadets, it was a life-changing experience – click here for more details.
Melbourne VIC
The cadets in Melbourne met under the direction of Captain Andrew Walton, Training Officer from Eva Burrows College.
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Cadets observed a Welcome to Country as part of their immersion week.
Over the course of the week, the cadets attended an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Spirituality Symposium, participated in Aboriginal ceremonies, and visited a cultural
“Having met and heard from some of Melbourne’s Indigenous people, and explored their culture further – including coming to understand something more of the injustice they have endured – we now have a greater sense of the broken nature of our relationship with them,” said cadet Min-Hwan Oh.
“Our timeless God has seen many people from many different nations come to
Brisbane QLD
Lucy Davis, Queensland Divisional Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, accompanied the cadets on their training experiences and led reflections from <i>Australians Together<i>.
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The cadets spent time at Brisbane Streetlevel Mission.
The cadets served at Brisbane Streetlevel Mission and shared at Chapel there, spent time at Logan Corps and significant Indigenous surrounds with Uncle Barry Watson and Auntie Marlene, and visited Gold Coast Recovery Services (Fairhaven) where they joined local elders from the Yugambeh people in a “yarning circle” and discussed how addiction affects Indigenous people and their communities and the best ways to work with them.
At Divisional Headquarters, cadets also joined officers and staff in a “yarning circle” to discuss their experiences of working with Indigenous communities.
A range of cultural activities was also part of the immersion training.
“It was an emotional and thought-provoking insight into Australian History and how it is still impacting the nation today,” said cadet Andrew Johnson.
For more information on the immersion training, and personal quotes from the cadets, click here.
To watch the four-part series, Australians Together, click here
Comments
It is great to see what other people around Australia did for this Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Immersion week, while all different, God was certainly at the forefront, back and sides and I want to honor Him in all His glory for actually laying on the hearts of our Salvationists to see programs like this flourish under the guidance of leadership teams.