Grounded in culture and community.
Inspired by their desire to create meaningful impact, Aaron Jackson, Renae Walley, Linda James, Julie Burgoyne and Nadine Hansen applied to take part in Western Australian Aboriginal Leadership Institute (WAALI) programs.
WAALI is a not-for-profit organisation based in Western Australia. It delivers programs that nurture Aboriginal leadership across sectors, grounded in culture and community. Programs focus on building confidence, strengthening identity, and creating pathways for Aboriginal leaders to influence change.
The cohort from the Department of Communities and the Department of Housing and Works recently graduated from their respective Yorga Djenna Bidi Aboriginal Women's Leadership and Maaman Djenna Koorl Men's Leadership programs. Renae and Aarron said participating in the programs has helped them to build leadership skills, while remaining culturally grounded.
Aaron is a Wadandi Ballardong Noongar man, born and raised on Whadjuk Boodja. He works at Communities as a Senior Aboriginal Project Officer, coordinating the Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making project out of the Mirrabooka district office.
"Leadership, especially in the context of my role, means carrying yourself with respect and integrity, and never straying away from your personal values," Aaron said.
"Being able to provide a cultural lens and oversight into a program that I believe can really improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a space I do not take for granted."
He said completing the WAALI program had influenced his leadership style and helped him to reflect on his leadership journey.
"WAALI challenged me to recognise my values and critically reflect on what I believe to be my purpose in life. It was definitely confronting at times but also offered reassurance that I am exactly where I believe I need (and want) to be," Aaron said.
Renae is a Balardong, Yuet and Whadjuk woman who has family connections to Wagyl Kaip and Gnarrla Karla Boodja. The former Communities staff member moved to the Department of Housing and Works following public sector reform and now works as a Senior Policy Officer on the Remote Communities Fund. The mother of three grew up in Midland with her family who were raised on the Goomalling Reserve and in the town of Goomalling, 130km north-east of Perth.
"My family are survivors of New Norcia and Mogumbar Mission and education was a key part of my upbringing as they didn't receive a standard education."
Renae's first full time job was as an Aboriginal Police Cadet with WA Police in 1991. Her diverse career has seen her work across Aboriginal education, health, justice and housing sectors.
Renae applied for the Yorga Djenna Bidi program to enhance cross cultural leadership and develop leadership skills to navigate workplace dynamics, foster collaboration and drive impactful outcomes aligned to the Remote Communities Fund and Aboriginal community interests, on and off country.
She said taking part in the program had helped her to lead with clarity and care, grow in confidence and gain skills in culturally attuned leadership, strategic communication and community empowerment.
"My hope is to create meaningful impact, uphold cultural integrity ensuring Aboriginal knowledge, traditions, and self-determination shape housing solutions. I hope to amplify Aboriginal voices and drive policy reform and create pathways for community led development, inclusive of transforming systems elevating Aboriginal perspectives and ensuing that housing initiatives reflect the continuation of our cultural and lived experiences," Renae explained.
Listening to other participants and guest speakers share their stories and visions of a better future for Aboriginal people resonated with Renae.
"Leadership to me means walking and talking with purpose and responsibility and amplifying other voices by making room for Aboriginal voices on all levels - with community, our peers and colleagues, youth and elderly," she reflected.
"Leadership means having hard conversations, around complex issues and turning those conversations into meaningful and long-term generational change. It's also remembering where you came from and staying humble and keeping my family and cultural responsibilities at the centre."
