Year 1
What to expect in Year 1
Year 1 Course details
ENTRY
Entry to the course is via an application form and interview with Course Elders. To apply for this course, please contact us.
Course Elders will also contact a student’s local Elder(s) to discuss their suitability for the course.
The Elders overseeing the course take the selection process seriously and invitation is only offered to those they discern ready and able to carry the knowledge well.
WHO
The Leadership Development Program is run by:
Elders Group: Uncle Don Hayward, Pastor Sandra Dumas and Aunty Clare Lena. Also involved are Uncle Clyde Rigney and Aunty Rose Rigney.
Presenters and staff: Mark Yettica-Paulson, Ps. Sandra Dumas, Dr. Wynand de Kock, Kyle Slabb (Year 2) and Peter Bergmeier.
We also spend time with local Aboriginal leaders: at Raukkan (SA), Kalkarindji/Lajamanu/Katherine (NT), and Tweed Heads (NSW).
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Uncle Don Hayward
COURSE ELDER
Uncle Don Hayward is a Noongar man from Western Australia. He’s currently the Pastor of the Aboriginal Berean Community Church in Adelaide and married to Kali with four children; Joshua, Caleb, Isaac and Cassiah. Uncle Don is passionate about exploring the question posed by Uncle Graham Paulson; ‘What does it mean to be authentically Aboriginal and authentically Christian living in the Western World?’
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Pastor Sandra Dumas
COURSE ELDER / PRESENTER
Sandra is a Senior Pastor of Ganggalah Church with her husband, William. Coming from Tweed Heads in the far north coast of NSW, Sandra belongs to the Coodgenburra clan of the Bundjalung Nation.
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Aunty Clare Lena
COURSE ELDER
Aunty Clare in a Mununjali woman from SE Qld. She currently works at the Tweed Byron Local Aborignal Land Council, and is passionate about serving in her community.
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Mark Yettica-Paulson
COURSE PRESENTER
Mark’s family has been involved in First Nations Christian ministry since the 1960s with his parents, Rev. Graham and Mrs Iris Paulson coming from Fingal and Cherbourg. Mark’s pleased to be following his parent’s tradition of supporting Indigenous Christian leadership development and brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership development and intercultural facilitation.
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Prof. Wynand de Kock
COURSE PRESENTER
Originally from South Africa, Wynand came to live in Australia in 2004. He played a key role in the course’s early discussions with Uncle Rev. Graham Paulson and Australians Together. Wynand is Professor of Practical Theology at Eastern University in Philadelphia.
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Peter Bergmeier
COURSE FACILITATOR
Based in Melbourne, Peter’s been involved in the project since its inception in 2011. As a member of the Leadership Team at Australians Together, he facilitates the Five Stones project and fosters relationships to ensure people are on-track, connected and well-informed.
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Clyde and Rose Rigney
CONNECTED ELDERS
Uncle Clyde and Aunty Rose have been instrumental in creating this course and remain closely connected through the on-Country trip to Raukkan.
YOUR COMMITMENT
Students accepted into the course must commit to the full 10-month process. This requires:
Five interstate gatherings
2-hour online weekly meetings on Monday nights
2 hours per week of self-paced learning (online).
Students only need to commit to the first year of the course and can choose to continue at a later stage.
ASSESSMENT
Learners can study at an academic level appropriate to their skills and describe their learning through images, paintings, short written pieces or verbal presentations. The course isn’t currently accredited.
COSTS
Students are required to make a $4,000 contribution towards the cost of the Year 1 course in 2025. We can assist you with ideas for gaining sponsorship. Please don't let financial costs be a barrier to you applying.
TECHNOLOGY
Students need to supply their own laptop, have a basic understanding of software (Zoom, Email, Word, Web Browser), and have regular access to stable internet.
Course format
The Year 1 course runs from early February to late November, including regular breaks.
Throughout 2020, we learned that leadership is about being flexible and dealing with challenges beyond our control in creative ways. If travel is restricted for part(s) of the course, we’ve created online events with Elders from each location. Students are also encouraged to connect with their local Elders and explore Indigenous knowledges where they are located.
“This course has opened my eyes to cultural aspects. It also helped me with identity as well, in knowing who I am, and how I carry myself in my community.”
Aunty Clare Lena
FAQs
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• An Indigenous Christian in a community or ministry leadership role, and eager to learn and grow.
• Grappling with what it means to be ‘authentically Aboriginal, and truly Christian’.
• Trying to come to terms with our shared history, the role of the church in colonisation, and what it means today.
• Interested in planning and leading a small community project in the future.
Already asking these types of questions…
• What does it mean to be an Indigenous person, and thrive in dominant culture?
• What is culture and how can I follow Jesus and be a cultural person at the same time?
• What does leadership look like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
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• Five gatherings on-Country (urban / regional / remote) where we learn from a wide range of Elders. (a total of 21 days - 10 of these days are on weekdays where you’ll need to secure leave from your workplace - if applicable)
• Regular online gatherings with input from First Nations and non-Indigenous leaders (max. 10 students).
• Online learning at your own pace - videos/articles with short-answer reflections (no essays).
• Christian Indigenous Elders who walk alongside students over the year.
• Focus on practical application of learning within your community context.
• A commitment from each person in the group to contribution, and respect and honour that will keep us in right relationships.