FAQs
Find further information about our services with in our most frequently asked questions page. If you need assistance, we would love to help you.
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What do Speaking in Colour do?
Speaking in Colour has built a solid reputation for presenting engaging training and innovative workshops, and providing easy-to-use educational resources. We help a broad spectrum of our community. From corporate business and government (including local councils), to community groups, regional art galleries and schools.
Who is the founder of Speaking in Colour?
Speaking in Colour is owned and operated by Aboriginal arts and education consultant, Cherie Johnson.
“As an educator and artist, I know that communication across the generations is the key way to effect change in our society. In the true spirit of reconciliation, I share my story and my skills so that people can build a better understanding of our diverse Indigenous cultures.”
Cherie Johnson is a Gamilaroi and Weilwun woman who resides in Newcastle, NSW and participates as an active member of the Awabakal Community. Her grandmother, Rachal Darcy, was born on the Beemunnal Mission in Warren, NSW. Cherie is a PhD candidate researching the effects of urban Aboriginal Women coming to culture and the importance in the contemporary context. She is also a highly regarded lecturer in Aboriginal culture and education and is currently a casual lecturer at the University of Newcastle.
How can I get in contact with the team from Speaking in Colour?
Get in touch with us by visiting our Contact Us page or calling us on 1300 346 064.
Services
What do the Aboriginal cultural workshops for Ages 0-5 entail?
A series of workshops have been designed especially for pre-schools and early learning centres to encourage play-based learning and for our little explorers 0-5years old. Each session is 45 mins long will vary in content based on the student's ages and abilities. Longer or additional sessions are available on request.
We offer the following workshops to this age group:
- Time to move (Aboriginal Dance)
- Interwoven (Aboriginal weaving)
- Appreciation (Aboriginal Art Appreciation)
- Torres Strait Islander dance and culture
What do the Aboriginal cultural workshops for Primary and upwards entail?
Speaking in Colour offers a range of innovative Aboriginal cultural and art workshops that bring Aboriginal perspectives into the classroom for your students – from primary age and upwards.
We offer the following workshops to this age group:
- Time to move (Aboriginal Dance)
- Interwoven (Aboriginal weaving)
- Appreciation (Aboriginal Art Appreciation)
- Possum (Possum Skin Cloaks)
- Torres Strait Islander dance and culture
- Artefact making
- Yidaki (Didgeridoo) playing
Do you run cultural programs?
Speaking in Colour offers a range of programs ranging from 5 day intensives to 4-20 week courses.
Do you provide any online training for those who can’t attend face-to-face sessions?
Yes. We have e-learning accredited courses for teachers of primary and secondary education. We also have an e-library available to participants.
Where do you run your team building sessions?
Some of these take place in our office in Newcastle and others take place at your premises. Get in touch to discuss via our Contact page.
Are you a certified NESA training provider?
Yes, we are. Please visit our education section.
What’s a RAP?
The word RAP stands for Reconciliation Action Plan and these are specifically designed for workplaces.
To develop a RAP, your organisation must be a workplace, have employees, and have operations in Australia, among other prerequisites.
We can help you in the development of your RAP as part of our consulting services.
What’s an Indigenous Procurement Policy?
The primary purpose of the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) is to stimulate Indigenous entrepreneurship, business and economic development, providing Indigenous Australians with more opportunities to participate in the economy.
Prior to the implementation of the policy, Indigenous enterprises secured limited business from Commonwealth procurement. The policy is intended to significantly increase the rate of purchasing from Indigenous enterprises.
We help organisations in developing their IPP, if you are interested please contact us.
Do you offer a NAIDOC week package?
Yes, we offer both full and half-day packages, ranging from 4 - 6 workshops.
You can choose from the following workshops:
- Possum skin cloak
- Interwoven
- Time to move (m&f teachers available),
- Art appreciation
- Elders talk and
- Artefact making
To book our NAIDOC week packages, please contact us.
Culture
Is the business Aboriginal owned and operated?
Yes, Speaking in Colour is owned and operated by Aboriginal arts and education consultant, Cherie Johnson and run alongside a team of strong Aboriginal women.
Why is Aboriginal cultural capacity training important?
Aboriginal culture is diverse and dynamic. Cultural capacity training fosters workplace and community cultures to respect and value the skills, experiences, and perspectives of Aboriginal employees and citizens. Tapping into this rich cultural experience and understanding through a lens of cultural competence rewards all those who participate.
You can join our scheduled training sessions open to the public – or have a session designed especially for your team.
What does being ‘culturally capable’ mean?
There are steps to achieving cultural safety within your organisation. With each team member having varying understandings or experiences. To understand cultural safety, we much distinguish it from cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity. This is not political correctness, it is correcting the lack of education we as Australians have had access to about Australian Aboriginal people and culture. And how our actions today can help close the gap evident as a result of the past.
What is the history of Aboriginal art?
Each tribe’s boundaries and population has varied over time as vast changes occurred in the landscape. This has given rise to a variety of customs and art styles. Historically, Aboriginal people did not create imagery for aesthetic reasons; mark making, colours and motifs all had purpose and varied in each region. Most often they were ceremonial in purpose and were used to transmit information across the generations.