Wayaperri - Leadership Initiative
What is Wayaperri?
Wayaperri — meaning ‘to meet’ in the language of the Wathaurung people of Victoria — supports Aboriginal leadership through participation on boards, mentoring and learning.
It includes a register for Aboriginal people interested in becoming part of a government or community board, a mentor bank managed by the Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria, scholarships and training opportunities and regional forums.
Wayaperri is the part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group’s 2010 report Moonda Wurrin Gree: Pathways to a Better Economic Future (PDF 1.4 MB) or (Word 35 KB) which recommended the development of leadership and mentoring programs to increase the economic participation of Aboriginal people and close the economic gap.
The following initiatives make up Wayaperri:
- The Aboriginal Participation on Boards Register
- The Mentor Bank
- Training Opportunities
- Regional Forums
The Department of Planning and Community Development would like to thank and acknowledge the Wathaurung people for allowing the use of the word Wayaperri for the name of this initiative.
Wayaperri is also on Face Book! By ‘liking’ the Wayaperri Facebook Page you will be kept informed and up to date with all the latest news and opportunities.
The Launch of Wayaperri
Wayaperri was launched by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs on 29 March 2011 – here are some great photos from the day.
Wayaperri – The Aboriginal Participation on Boards Register
http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/wayaperriregister/
The Wayaperri Aboriginal Participation on Boards Register is a database containing details of Aboriginal people in Victoria who are interested in nominating for a government or community sector board.
How does the Register work?
The Register holds the names, contact details, resumes and areas of interest of Aboriginal Victorians who are keen and available to take up a board position.
Those who have provided their details to the Register also give permission for their resume to be reproduced and released to Government agencies, not-for-profit organisations and community groups seeking new board members.
When a board vacancy arises, the Register will be scanned for appropriate candidates. If a suitable candidate is identified, they are asked for their permission before their details are passed on to the recruiting board.
It is important to note that registering does not fast-track your nomination or guarantee a board position – it is simply a method of streamlining the nomination process. Selection procedures, including assessment of the particular skills, experiences, interests and suitability of each candidate will take place in accordance with each individual Board's normal processes.
The Email Alert System
The Register also includes an Email Alert System, which provides information on current board vacancies in Victoria. Details include:
- the agency or body that is seeking Board member/s;
- the functions and powers of the agency or body;
- how many positions are vacant;
- any particular qualifications/experience that is required by nominees;
- contact details for further information; and
- application closing date.
The alert email system provides a useful way for people to keep up-to-date with board vacancies and may provide ideas for board service that may not have previously been considered.
When will I be contacted?
AAV will contact you in the event that you are "matched" with a particular board vacancy. We will ask you to gauge your interest and seek your permission to forward your details to the particular board.Is the information I provide confidential?
Candidates' information is kept under Information Privacy Act (2000) provisions. It is released to Government Ministers, agencies or stakeholder organisations only after permission has been obtained from each candidate. You will be asked for this permission when you join the Wayaperri Register.
What types of vacancies are promoted by the Register?
Government and not-for-profit boards and committees cover a vast range of interest areas, including major event coordination, heritage and environmental issues, health and recreational pastimes.
Some boards are small and low-profile, others have enormous responsibilities and operate within the public gaze. Government and not-for-profit boards also have varying functions and powers, with some fulfilling an organisational or facility management role, others providing advice to Government on particular issues and still others acting as a tribunal or registration body.
The Register promotes a wide variety of non-executive board member vacancies. (Non-executive members are those who are independent of and have no other paid association with the organisation the Board is governing). Some of the positions are paid, some are voluntary.
How do I register?
Registration is open to any Aboriginal person from Victoria and involves a free, one-step process. You can either:
Register your details by simply visiting the Wayaperri Aboriginal Participation on Boards Register.
Copy and paste the following URL: http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/wayaperriregister/
Forward your details via email to wayaperri@dpcd.vic.gov.au remembering to include:
- your name,
- your current address,
- contact telephone number/s,
- your email address,
- an up-to-date resume, including any areas of interest, and
- whether or not you would like to be included in the Email Alert System.
If you do not have access to email you can send your details (including all of the above information) to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, GPO Box 2392 Melbourne, Victoria 3001
Help Sheet 1: What is the register and why should I be on it? (PDF 104 KB) or (Word 283 KB)
Help Sheet 2: Useful tips on how to move from registering your details to being selected for a board position (PDF 83 KB) or (Word 194 KB)
Help Sheet 3: What are boards and what do they do? (PDF 164 KB) or (Word 498 KB)
Help Sheet 4: What’s in it for me? Ups and downs of board service (PDF 103 KB) or (Word 286 KB)
Help Sheet 5: Are you ready? Questions to ask and answer when considering or being interviewed for a board position (PDF 133 KB) or (Word 710 KB)
Help Sheet 6: Overview of legal responsibilities (PDF 134 KB) or (Word 715 KB)
Help Sheet 7: Overview of financial responsibilities (PDF 133 KB) or (Word 710 KB)
Help Sheet 8: Handling conflict of interest (PDF 103 KB) or (Word 493 KB)
Help Sheet 9: To whom is my board accountable? (PDF 103 KB) or (Word 274 KB)
Help Sheet 10: Am I a good board member? Self assessment check-list (PDF 90 KB) or (Word 334 KB)
How do I search for a board member?
If you are interested in searching for a board member who has registered with Wayaperri, call Aboriginal Affairs Victoria on 9208 3546 or email wayaperri@dpcd.vic.gov.au.
The Mentor Bank
The Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria — in collaboration with the Victorian Government has established a mentor bank to increase the pool of trained and culturally competent mentors available to support Aboriginal people.
The mentor bank grows the pool of trained and culturally competent mentors and leaders available to support Aboriginal Victorians to reach their aspirations.
The Mentor Bank includes Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people from a wide range of backgrounds who are able to guide and support Aboriginal people in areas such as, but not limited to businesses, workforce participation, and transition from schooling to further education, training and employment.
The Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria provide support access to training, workshops, resource material and other tools to support mentors.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring is the formation of a helping relationship between a person (mentee) and an unrelated, more experienced person (mentor) who can increase the capacity of the mentee to connect with positive social and economic networks to access new opportunities.
The benefits of mentoring for a mentee include:
- Improving school attendance, attitudes and completion rates;
- Supporting employment, and provide guidance to business development and related activities;
- Preventing or reducing substance abuse, negative, unsocial and criminal behavior;
- Promoting positive social attitudes toward school, family, friends and the future; and
- Improving overall perceptions of self-worth.
The benefits of mentoring for a mentor include:
- Developing a positive relationship and gain an insight into the day-to-day lives of others;
- Gaining satisfaction from making a positive contribution to others;
- Building new skills through training and application during mentor match;
- Increasing opportunities to build networks with other mentors, program staff and partners; and
- Developing a positive relationship.
For further information on the Mentor Bank visit the Indigenous Leadership Network’s website
The Diversity Mentor Training
The Victorian Government is support training for people to complete the Diversity Mentoring Program delivered by the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre. When people complete the 2-day training they will be included in the Mentor Bank and then matched with an established mentoring program in Victoria.
The Diversity Mentoring Training - March 2012
Applications are now open for the Diversity Mentoring Training. The training will be held in Mildura on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th March 2012. If you are interested in completing the training then complete and retunr the following Expression of Interest Application form. Applications for the Diversity Mentor Training close on Friday 17th February 2012.
Training and Scholarships Opportunities
Company Directors Course
The Australian Institute of Company Directors
Aboriginal Victorians who want to make a greater contribution to the private, public and not-for-profit sectors are encouraged to apply for scholarships offered through a partnership between the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Victorian Government.
Covering topics such as strategy development, decision making, financial literacy and performance, the week-long course will offer people a valuable perspective to make a contribution to the board on which they serve.
The scholarships will meet the full cost of the AICD Company Directors course and materials, valued at more than $8,000, as well as transport and accommodation costs for participants who live in regional Victoria.
2012 Scholarships Opportunities
Aboriginal Affairs Victoria is providing the opportunity for 10 Aboriginal Victorians to complete the Company Directors Course held in May and June 2012. The course will be held at the Australian Institute of Company Directors offices at Level 21, North Tower 459 Collins Street Melbourne, Victoria.
There are opportunities to complete the course between the following dates:
Monday 21 May to Friday 25 May 2012
Monday 4 June to Friday 8 June 2012
If you are interested in completing the course complete the Application Form (PDF 256 KB) or (Word 180 KB)
Our Community
Training is also available to courses delivered by Our Community. There are opportunities to participate in the Board Builder Conference and Secrets to a Successful Boards Seminar. Both courses provide a valuable insight into modern governance.
For further information, or if you are interested in applying please email the Wayaperri team at wayaperri@dpcd.vic.gov.au. or call 03 9208 3546
You can also visit Australian Institute of Company Directors and Our Community.
The First Wayaperri Forum - Friday 24 June 2011
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The first Wayaperri Forum was held on Friday 24 June at the Ballarat Art Gallery. The forum provided a fantastic opportunity for discussions about how Aboriginal people, business, community organisations, local government and other interested parties can become involved in Wayaperri.
In attendance was keynote speaker as Chief Executive of the Richmond Football Club Brendon Gale. Brendon shared his knowledge and experience about role models and mentoring. His stories were based on a personal and professional perspective. Kyle Vander-Kuyp, Australian hurdles record holder and Olympian also spoke at the Wayaperri Forum. Kyle spoke about his leadership experience, and current work involving one-on-one mentoring with Indigenous secondary school students.