Cultural Training programs

Keogh Bay has the most comprehensive suite of programs designed to support Indigenous engagement and employment in Australia.

Working with Indigenous employees (WWIE): Working with Indigenous employees is our most popular program, widely deployed in both BHP Billiton Iron Ore and Rio Tinto Iron Ore, BMA, Olympic Dam and Mt Arthur Coal among other major companies.

This one-day workshop aims to help operational leaders and team members:

  • Build strong working relationships with Indigenous employees
  • Effectively lead and manage Indigenous employees
  • Develop a productive team and a work environment that supports the retention of Indigenous employees

Keogh Bay has a range of other specialised programs focussed on helping businesses better engage with Indigenous people. These include:

Indigenous employment strategy workshop: This one-day workshop assists businesses looking to recruit and retain Indigenous employees. At the end of the workshop, participants walk out with a strategy outline tailored to their business and the tools and understanding to develop it further. Workshop facilitators have designed and implemented Indigenous employment strategies in some of the most successful employers of Indigenous people in Australia.

Recruiting Indigenous Employees: This program is for organisations looking for insight into how to attract and recruit Indigenous employees and develop a suitable Indigenous recruitment strategy

Keogh Bay’s consultants have developed some of the most successful Indigenous recruitment strategies in Australia. Our directors and partners have experience of best practice examples from around the country. This program captures that experience into a one-day program to help your business get started – or change direction.

Keogh Bay can adapt this program to most regions in Australia through our partners and associates. For example, we have delivered the program in collaboration with Noongar facilitators in the South West and in the Pilbara with Sandy McEwan and Brett and Sharyn Derschow.

The program is delivered by an Indigenous facilitator with direct personal experience of a variety of recruitment processes and an experienced corporate leader.

Working Together: The Working Together program is designed for groups of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It aims to build relationships and understanding among the participants and help them discuss some of the complex and sensitive issues that can stand in the way of honest and open engagement.

Our clients have used the Working Together program to kick-start the relationship between leaders and new Indigenous employees during the on-boarding process or help teams damaged by suspicion and tension. The program has been widely deployed as part of graduate, cadet and apprentice inductions.

Like most Keogh Bay programs, Working Together is delivered by both an Indigenous and non-Indigenous facilitator skilled at leading activities and discussions on topics where most fear to tread.

  • Teamwork and communication: This two-day program is designed for new Indigenous employees, trainees, or work readiness program participants and aims to develop strong communications skills and confidence in the workplace. Designed by Mark Simpson, former manager for Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Aboriginal Training and Liaison (ATAL) Unit, the program covers industry and employer expectations; understanding work and workplace culture; assertiveness, communication skills and teamwork.
  • The Next Steps Indigenous Leadership workshop: After almost 20 years of sustained effort in many businesses there are now large numbers of Indigenous employees working in mining, government and other industry sectors. However, the overwhelming majority of these employees remain in entry-level roles, with very few in coordination, supervisory or management positions. This one-day workshop is designed to develop the confidence of Indigenous employees to put themselves forward for leadership and development opportunities.
  • Cross-cultural communication: This one or two-day program looks at the essentials of cross-cultural communication in Australia, starting with an overview of Indigenous languages and communication through to techniques to help overcome communications barriers including the use of plain English, graphics, multimedia, translations and interpreters. The program looks in detail at the use of plain English for Indigenous audiences with numerous examples from real world situations.
  • Introductory cultural awareness training: Keogh Bay offers an introductory cultural awareness program run by our Indigenous facilitators around Australia. Keogh Bay is able to partner with local Indigenous organisations and trainers to support their delivery of cultural awareness training. We have a wide range of content modules that can be tailored for the needs of various clients.

Further Information

To get more information on Keogh Bay’s cultural awareness experience, or to request a project quote, please contact us at:

Matt Wrigley on 0419763101 or by email to matt.wrigley@keoghbay.com.au.
Mark Simpson on 0417911858 or by email to mark.simpson@keoghbay.com.au.