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The issue of leadership and capacity building has been identified by Indigenous Australians as a high priority. The AILC has established partnerships with organisations who are committed to exploring new opportunities with Indigenous Australians, thereby helping to create a better economically, socially and culturally diverse Australia.
The AILC now has a donor program that can also contribute to the growth of effective Indigenous leadership across Australia.
We have three donor projects we are seeking funding and contributions in kind towards:
- National Indigenous Leadership Coaching Program
- National Conversation on Indigenous Leadership
- National research on effective Indigenous leadership
National Indigenous Leadership Coaching Program
The AILC is establishing a coaching program for the more than 600 Indigenous graduates who have completed an AILC accredited leadership course. Indigenous graduates will be able to gain coaching from non-Indigenous or Indigenous leaders in an area of leadership they are seeking to develop. The AILC will provide opportunities for AILC graduates to volunteer to coach others going through AILC courses.
To establish the program we are seeking funds to employ a Leadership Coaching Coordinator for the next three years. The position will develop program guidelines, identify leaders willing to provide coaching and match them to AILC leadership graduates. As with all AILC programs, we will evaluate the outcomes of the coaching program to ensure it ‘adds value’ in strengthening Indigenous leadership skills
National Conversation on Indigenous Leadership
Each year the AILC will hold a national event that encourages learning and dialogue on effective Indigenous leadership. Our plan is to have many partners for this event, drawing on Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals and organisations who understand the importance of helping to nurture Indigenous leadership at all levels.
The national event will bring people together to exchange current knowledge and research on:
- what is effective Indigenous leadership and how this it similar or different to non-Indigenous leadership
- what works and what doesn’t in developing Indigenous leaders
- how Indigenous leaders can be better supported as they take on the hard issues facing Indigenous communities.
The AILC is interested in gaining sponsors for the first event, planned for November 2009.
National research on effective Indigenous leadership
Little research has been done on the effective elements of Indigenous leadership and how these might differ from western approaches to leadership. Increasing our knowledge of effective Indigenous leadership will not only assist in developing Indigenous leaders but will also have an impact on non-Indigenous understandings of leadership.
The AILC is seeking to establish a scholarship program to fund six research students to explore elements of Indigenous leadership. The scholarships would provide top-up funding to a research student and contribute to the costs of field research.
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