Speaking In Colour
Embracing Aboriginal Perspectives

In today’s dynamic landscape, incorporating Aboriginal culture in diverse settings, from boardrooms to classrooms, has become a pressing need. Many Australian enterprises recognise the importance of fostering greater Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion, particularly when engaging with Aboriginal clients, working on Australian land or conducting community consultations. Subsequently, the emphasis on Aboriginal cultural education has grown, and at the forefront of this movement stands Speaking in Colour—an influential organisation that empowers enterprises to proactively address the social lens.

Rooted in the education sector, Speaking in Colour is led and operated by passionate Aboriginal women. This unique composition enables the firm to effectively showcase and share cultural traditions, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal perspectives.

“We aim to educate, equip and encourage businesses and educators to embrace and appreciate Aboriginal culture,” says Cherie Johnson, managing director of Speaking in Colour.

Primarily focusing on corporates, Johnson engages with various boards and oversees change management initiatives. Her guidance helps them integrate Aboriginal perspectives and equips professionals to effectively engage with Aboriginal clients while conducting community consultations in Australia.

Acknowledging the Department of Education’s long-standing emphasis on including Aboriginal perspectives in teaching programs, Speaking in Colour serves as a provider of professional development for teachers. The firm’s endorsement from the National Education Standards Authority (NESA) further bolstered its credibility in the field. Speaking in Colour offers localised and authorised expert training in Aboriginal culture, enabling teachers to maintain their accreditation while seamlessly integrating Indigenous perspectives into their teaching practices.

Government policies like the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) have motivated several organisations to implement Aboriginal perspectives, establish Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), engage in cultural education activities and diversify their expenditure. However, many companies encountered uncertainty when initiating the process and sought guidance from Speaking in Colour. The company is not only compliant but actively promotes impactful change through culturally immersive team-building activities, fostering creativity, lateral thinking and hands-on participation.

Conducting educational sessions and workshops, Speaking in Colour helps organisations develop stakeholder agreement handbooks and RAPs, facilitating their comprehension of the processes involved in building and nurturing these crucial relationships.

Clients often seek Speaking in Colour’s assistance to develop a RAP. Johnson challenges their intentions by inquiring about the motivation behind incorporating an Aboriginal lens into their business strategies. A noteworthy example involves one of Speaking in Colour’s long-standing clients who initially had reservations about the process. By encouraging them to adopt a new perspective, the client understood the advantages of integrating an Aboriginal outlook into different aspects of their company, including place, staff, products and delivery. Consequently, they engaged the company’s services, leading to cultural education being facilitated throughout the organisation. Johnson actively participates in meetings, consistently serving as an educator for the board of executive directors and staff. Throughout this collaborative arrangement, the client has achieved notable success in advancing their Aboriginal education journey.

Beyond mergers and collaborations, Speaking in Colour recently hosted cultural education sessions for a prominent Australian consultancy, exposing its staff to valuable opportunities and inspiring keynotes. The firm ensures cultural safety by effectively addressing its client’s specific needs and concerns.

Johnson’s formidable background, deeply rooted in a strong female lineage, enhances her capability to deliver exceptional cultural education. Her extensive experience as a teacher, complemented by her academic qualifications, equips her with the expertise to provide insightful cultural education. By involving those connected with the community and possessing expert knowledge and teaching abilities, Speaking in Colour champions the revival of traditional cultural practices.