About Us

About us. Wiimpatja training and Skills development is an Aboriginal owned and operated training Service. We have a series of workshops that have been specifically designed for our partners that support change and implement adversity. This is achieved through Education, sharing of information, realising wisdom and embracing our rich diversity.

Wiimpatja came about as a result of Ivan Clarke and Eric Hudson identifying shortfalls in supporting the Empowerment of communities from Government and Non-Government organisations in First Nation communities.  Ivan and Eric identified that these shortfalls were not exclusive to First Nation Communities but were needed across Society in all spheres of business and community equity, thus Wiimpatja came about when Ivan and Eric, two men from two Cultures walked together to learn from each other and from the community they were in.

Our current portfolios are both certified and accredited. We deliver training through our Mentoring and Leadership workshops that empower individuals, support organisations and cultivate growth. We are partnered with organisations that have rich history of education and Training, TAFE our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) who supported the development of the Cert 3 in Mentoring and Leadership has access to the best facilities and Educators in the Country, educators who have life skills and insight that complement their qualifications to deliver their training. TAFE as an RTO delivers a myriad of training and is synonymous with supporting persons whose education development was stifled by the education system. TAFE provided these people with a different platform to learn from, these people have gone on to become masters in their fields in all areas of employment.

Family Worker Training FWT requested something unique, something that supported understanding and awareness of the disparity that presented for Aboriginal people. The Working with and Understanding Australia’s first people was designed and implemented to support the change that is required to work affectively with understanding Why Aboriginal people are at a greater disadvantage than everyday Australian. The workshop explores a trauma informed perspective and highlights the true History of Australia. It’s confronting and honest but informative and supportive, if we are to move forward together as a Nation we must take stock of our past. If a new CEO is appointed to a Corporation he inherits every aspect of the Corporation including the negative historical outcomes in business and Finance. He cannot declare that “those belong to the previous Director” and wipe his hands of them (Tim Wise ‘on White Privilege’). In the same Vein, we as a Country must confront our Historical Deficits in order to reap a rewarding future. Working with and Understanding First Australians unpacks this issue and presents it back in a Journey of learning for all participants resulting in healing and ultimately Change.

Cultural Resilience explores the impacts of Colonisation on First Nation people when the two Cultures collided. The oldest living Culture in the World was smashed into by the most prolific and advanced Culture in the World. This set the platform for disadvantage as the two cultures were as polar as the Countries of Origin were for the Colonisers and the Colonised. Religion Vs Spirituality, Monogamy Vs Polygamy, Black Vs White and Ego Vs Humanity. The impacts of Colonisation is still as relevant as it was in 1788 and has an ongoing effect on First Nation people today in every aspect of our lives as a Nation and as a people. Cultural resilience is designed to assist us to comprehend how much this affected every aspect of our beings as individuals, Families, communities and as Societies for both sides.

Healing

Healing is the foundation of all change. When we as a person, an individual are impacted by trauma that can be as simple as moving to a new neighbourhood or as tragic as the loss of a loved one, we must commence Healing. But what is healing? What does it entail? Who can help me Heal? And how long will it take? Do I need healing? These questions resonate with all human Beings when we are confronted with Trauma. Our Healing workshops explore the many different factors about healing and what is the Healing process for you. We design programs to support the individual’s needs as well as Community and Culture.

When we listen, we may learn, when we observe we may understand, when we appreciate we may grow, when we share we may heal. When we open our hearts to change, we can all Walk and learn together’

Ivan Clarke
Director
Wiimpatja, training and Skills Development.
Walking and Learning together.