Leadership participants evaluating the year and planning for 2020
In the last week of November, participants of the Martu Leadership Program (MLP) came together at Roy Hill for an end-of-year meeting focussed on evaluation and planning. We had our longterm partners Ann Ingamells from Griffith University and Paul Crossley from World Vision Australia join us for the workshop.
People spoke about their own personal journey within the program and the confidence they have gained by participating. We recognised that most of us start out by listening and gradually build our confidence step-by-step. Having the confidence to speak up at conferences or simply coming along to meetings and listening are equally important steps in developing a Martu voice.
One senior elder commented “For me now, I’m really proud of all you leadership mob, we’ve struggled through our life and we try to find a way to solve these problems. But you can’t do it alone. We need that one voice to push it along — let’s work together and let’s see what good comes out.”
During the meeting the participants compiled a list of over 40 partnerships that the MLP has fostered since it started six years ago. Each one of them representing another door that is opening and enabling Martu to achieve things in their communities.
The future of Martu communities is tied to many of these partnerships and how well they are operating. It helped everyone to see just how much MLP participants are doing for their people and the strength of working together.
The MLP is not just about program work, it is about people and communities. It’s about the journey that includes the everyday battles Martu face and the ways in which we can support each other along the way.
The meetings finished on a high note as the opportunities emerging for Martu were highlighted. Although an intense and tiring couple of days, everyone walked away feeling hopeful, enthusiastic and motivated for 2020.
