Building up Good Supervisors Skills

Funding: FaHCSIA
Dates: October 2011 – June 2012
Location: Yirrkala, Laynhapuy Homelands, Galiwin’k,u Ramingining, Milingimbi, Gapuwiyak

Summary

• BUGSS consisted of 3 rounds of centralised 3-day workshops and community/workplace-based mentoring over a 9 month period and had a very high level of participation
• Participants were working for various CDEP Providers in supervisor positions or expressed a desire to develop supervisor skills
• Participants worked together to identify the knowledge, skills and behaviour required of supervisors and developed Personal Learning Plans that guided their work with mentors
• The both-ways approach valued and respected both Yolŋu and western knowledge traditions and practices, with participants and facilitators viewed both as teachers and learners
• Feedback from participants was used to inform and improve the program as we went along
• Comprehensive booklets were produced after workshops as a record, report and resource
• Three of the workshop facilitators were also mentors and lived in communities for the duration of the project, visiting mentees as well as mentoring over the phone
• Literacy, numeracy and ICT skills were integrated into all aspects of the program
• Facilitators/mentors developed strong relationships with mentees