our program
MASTER OF CEREMONY
Shelley Ware
Shelley Ware is a proud Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman, educator, author and media presenter who has spent more than two decades championing First Nations voices in education, sport and media.
With over 25 years of experience as a teacher and education consultant, Shelley works alongside schools and organisations across Australia helping educators confidently embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures into their teaching. Many people will also recognise Shelley from her work across television, radio and podcasts where she brings powerful conversations about culture, identity and community into the national spotlight.
Known for her warmth, humour and ability to connect with audiences, Shelley creates spaces where people feel comfortable to listen, learn and reflect. As MC for the conference, Shelley will guide the day’s conversations, bringing energy, insight and a strong cultural voice to this important national gathering.
Key Note Speaker
Max Lenoy
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)
Keynote:
The ACARA FIRST Framework – Building respectful and reciprocal relationships with First Nations Elders,
knowledge holders and educators.
Max Lenoy is a Kuku Yalanji, Jirrbal and Warungu man from North Queensland and the Curriculum Specialist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures at the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). He works with teachers, communities and schools across Australia to support the development of First Nations resources within the Australian Curriculum.
Panel Speakers
Sara Frazer
Tanya Saltner & Uncle Gregory Egert (Uncle Cheg)
Tanya Saltner & Uncle Gregory Egert (Uncle Cheg)
Reconciliation Queensland
Tanya Saltner & Uncle Gregory Egert (Uncle Cheg)
Tanya Saltner & Uncle Gregory Egert (Uncle Cheg)
Tanya Saltner & Uncle Gregory Egert (Uncle Cheg)
The Murri School
Tessa Keenan
Tanya Saltner & Uncle Gregory Egert (Uncle Cheg)
Tessa Keenan
Reconciliation Australia (Narragunnawali)
Meet Our Presenters
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Rachel Dunn
Bronwyn Cochrane
Rachel Dunn
Founder, Jenname Consultancy & Training
Workshop:
Speaking Safe: Building Culturally Safe and Trauma Informed Practice in School Communities
Rachel Dunn is a proud Palawa woman, educator, and cultural advisor with more than 30 years’ experience working alongside Aboriginal children, families, and communities.
Through Jenname Consultancy, s
Founder, Jenname Consultancy & Training
Workshop:
Speaking Safe: Building Culturally Safe and Trauma Informed Practice in School Communities
Rachel Dunn is a proud Palawa woman, educator, and cultural advisor with more than 30 years’ experience working alongside Aboriginal children, families, and communities.
Through Jenname Consultancy, she supports schools and organisations to strengthen cultural safety, trauma informed practice, and respectful engagement with Aboriginal students and families.
Her work is grounded in truth telling, relational learning, and the lived experience of Aboriginal families.
Stephen Rutter
Bronwyn Cochrane
Rachel Dunn
Founder, The Scale Institute
Workshop:
From Respect to Relationship: Embedding First Nations Perspectives Through Practice
Stephen Rutter is an Indigenous educator and founder of The Scale Institute, where he designs learning experiences that connect cultural knowledge with practical action in education and organisations. His work supports
Founder, The Scale Institute
Workshop:
From Respect to Relationship: Embedding First Nations Perspectives Through Practice
Stephen Rutter is an Indigenous educator and founder of The Scale Institute, where he designs learning experiences that connect cultural knowledge with practical action in education and organisations. His work supports schools to move beyond intention and into meaningful, community connected practice.
Stephen brings experience across education, entrepreneurship, and innovation, helping educators embed First Nations perspectives through respectful relationships and reflective practice.
Rhiannon Moreton
Bronwyn Cochrane
Bronwyn Cochrane
University of Queensland
Workshop:
Jagunjen (From Country), Not Policy: A Quandamooka Elders’ and Women’s Standpoint on Learning and the Possessive Logic of Queensland Education
Rhiannon Moreton is a proud Quandamooka, Jagera and Gubbi Gubbi woman and Higher Degree by Research candidate in the School of Education at the University of Quee
University of Queensland
Workshop:
Jagunjen (From Country), Not Policy: A Quandamooka Elders’ and Women’s Standpoint on Learning and the Possessive Logic of Queensland Education
Rhiannon Moreton is a proud Quandamooka, Jagera and Gubbi Gubbi woman and Higher Degree by Research candidate in the School of Education at the University of Queensland. Her work explores Indigenous educational sovereignty, Indigenous futures, and the role of Country, community and Elders in shaping how learning is understood.
Through her research and teaching experience, Rhiannon is committed to strengthening educational outcomes for her mob by centring Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of learning within education.
Bronwyn Cochrane
Bronwyn Cochrane
Bronwyn Cochrane
Founder and Managing Director, TIPIAC
Workshop:
8 Ways Roadmap to Embedding Authentic First Nations Perspectives
Bronwyn (Bonnie) is a proud Gamilaraay woman and the Founder of TIPIAC, an Aboriginal owned education organisation supporting educators to embed authentic First Nations perspectives across curriculum and school practice.
With mor
Founder and Managing Director, TIPIAC
Workshop:
8 Ways Roadmap to Embedding Authentic First Nations Perspectives
Bronwyn (Bonnie) is a proud Gamilaraay woman and the Founder of TIPIAC, an Aboriginal owned education organisation supporting educators to embed authentic First Nations perspectives across curriculum and school practice.
With more than 28 years working alongside educators across Australia, Bonnie is known for creating practical tools and frameworks that help teachers move beyond good intentions into meaningful classroom practice grounded in Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing.
Deborah Belyea
Tanya Saltner
Josh Brown
Director, Zeyawgub Consultancy
Workshop:
Muy Nulayg
(Inner Knowledge):
The Importance of Cultural Identity for the Torres Strait Islander Child
Deborah Belyea is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from the Samuawgadhalayg, with family connections to Saibai Island, Dauan Island, and the Baga community in Cape York.
She is an experienced
Director, Zeyawgub Consultancy
Workshop:
Muy Nulayg
(Inner Knowledge):
The Importance of Cultural Identity for the Torres Strait Islander Child
Deborah Belyea is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from the Samuawgadhalayg, with family connections to Saibai Island, Dauan Island, and the Baga community in Cape York.
She is an experienced educator, artist, and Director of Zeyawgub Consultancy, with more than 20 years working across remote and regional communities and in
higher education.
Deborah works closely with educators to strengthen cultural responsiveness and confidence in embedding First Nations perspectives, particularly within early
years education.
Josh Brown
Tanya Saltner
Josh Brown
Co Founder, Deadly Ed
Workshop:
Native Gardens and Yarning Circles: Your Greatest Educational Resources Are in Your Own Backyard
Josh Brown is a proud Worimi man from the Mid North Coast of New South Wales and Co Founder of Deadly Ed. With a background as a teacher, Josh now works across schools and organisations to strengthen cultural e
Co Founder, Deadly Ed
Workshop:
Native Gardens and Yarning Circles: Your Greatest Educational Resources Are in Your Own Backyard
Josh Brown is a proud Worimi man from the Mid North Coast of New South Wales and Co Founder of Deadly Ed. With a background as a teacher, Josh now works across schools and organisations to strengthen cultural education and support meaningful engagement with Aboriginal perspectives.
Through Deadly Ed, Josh helps educators create learning environments that connect students to Country, culture, and community, supporting stronger outcomes for Aboriginal young people and a deeper understanding for all students.
Tanya Saltner
Tanya Saltner
Tanya Saltner
Principal, The Murri School
Workshop:
The Murri School Way
Tanya Saltner is a proud Wulli Wulli and Wakka Wakka woman and Principal of The Murri School in Brisbane.
With a long history in community controlled education, Tanya’s work is grounded in strengthening culture, connection to Country, and supporting First Nations students to thri
Principal, The Murri School
Workshop:
The Murri School Way
Tanya Saltner is a proud Wulli Wulli and Wakka Wakka woman and Principal of The Murri School in Brisbane.
With a long history in community controlled education, Tanya’s work is grounded in strengthening culture, connection to Country, and supporting First Nations students to thrive both academically and culturally.
Through her leadership, The Murri School has become a strong example of culturally responsive, community led education that centres Indigenous knowledge systems, relationships, and student wellbeing.
Karen Tighe
Tanya Saltner
Tanya Saltner
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Consultant
Armidale Catholic Schools
Workshop:
Wii Gaay – Clever Child Program
Karen Tighe is a proud Ngemba and Gamilaraay educator with extensive experience supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across rural and regional NSW. She works as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Consultant
Armidale Catholic Schools
Workshop:
Wii Gaay – Clever Child Program
Karen Tighe is a proud Ngemba and Gamilaraay educator with extensive experience supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across rural and regional NSW. She works as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander K–12 Education Consultant for Armidale Catholic Schools, supporting culturally strong pathways and opportunities for young people.
Karen’s work focuses on strengthening cultural identity, wellbeing, and educational pathways for Aboriginal students through programs that centre culture, belonging, and high expectations.
Larissa Taylor
Gemma Pol & Jordyn Green
Gemma Pol & Jordyn Green
Flinders University
Workshop:
Truth Telling Is Not an Add On: Embedding First Nations Knowledges with Integrity
Larissa Taylor is a proud Gumbaynggirr woman and educator based on Kaurna Country in South Australia. She works in higher education and community services, with extensive experience across youth justice, child protection, cultur
Flinders University
Workshop:
Truth Telling Is Not an Add On: Embedding First Nations Knowledges with Integrity
Larissa Taylor is a proud Gumbaynggirr woman and educator based on Kaurna Country in South Australia. She works in higher education and community services, with extensive experience across youth justice, child protection, cultural training, and Aboriginal health education.
Larissa’s work centres on truth telling, cultural integrity, and relational accountability, supporting educators to embed First Nations knowledges respectfully and meaningfully within education systems.
Gemma Pol & Jordyn Green
Gemma Pol & Jordyn Green
Gemma Pol & Jordyn Green
Gemma Pol - CEO Common Ground
Jordyn Green - Founder of
The Yulang Effect
Workshop:
Story as Pedagogy – Theme Based Learning Through First Nations Storytelling
Gemma Pol, CEO of Common Ground First Nations, and Jordyn Green, Founder of The Yulang Effect, bring together storytelling, education, and cultural knowledge to support deeper unde
Gemma Pol - CEO Common Ground
Jordyn Green - Founder of
The Yulang Effect
Workshop:
Story as Pedagogy – Theme Based Learning Through First Nations Storytelling
Gemma Pol, CEO of Common Ground First Nations, and Jordyn Green, Founder of The Yulang Effect, bring together storytelling, education, and cultural knowledge to support deeper understanding of First Nations perspectives.
Gemma is a Wiradjuri, Ngemba and Paakantji woman who leads national storytelling initiatives that centre First Nations voices and lived experiences. Jordyn is a Wiradjuri, Ngemba and Paakantji woman and founder of The Yulang Effect.
Together they explore how First Nations storytelling can become the foundation for meaningful, theme based learning across classrooms and curriculum areas.
Michael Passi
Gemma Pol & Jordyn Green
Michael Passi
Passi Indigenous Consultancy
Workshop:
Walking With Us: Practical Cultural Capability for Educators
Michael Passi is a Torres Strait Islander consultant with lived cultural connections across the Torres Strait and Far North Queensland. He has more than 18 years of experience delivering cultural capability training and supporting organisat
Passi Indigenous Consultancy
Workshop:
Walking With Us: Practical Cultural Capability for Educators
Michael Passi is a Torres Strait Islander consultant with lived cultural connections across the Torres Strait and Far North Queensland. He has more than 18 years of experience delivering cultural capability training and supporting organisations to build stronger understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Through Passi Indigenous Consultancy, Michael works with educators, government agencies, and workplaces to strengthen cultural confidence, support respectful engagement, and help create environments where First Nations people feel seen, supported, and able to thrive.
Jessica Staines
Gemma Pol & Jordyn Green
Michael Passi
Founder and Director,
Koori Curriculum
Workshop:
All In: Moving Beyond Intentions to Action Through RAP Roadmaps in Early Childhood Education
Jessica Staines is a Wiradjuri early childhood consultant, author, and Founder of Koori Curriculum. With more than fifteen years working across early learning, professional development, and communi
Founder and Director,
Koori Curriculum
Workshop:
All In: Moving Beyond Intentions to Action Through RAP Roadmaps in Early Childhood Education
Jessica Staines is a Wiradjuri early childhood consultant, author, and Founder of Koori Curriculum. With more than fifteen years working across early learning, professional development, and community initiatives, Jess supports educators to embed Aboriginal perspectives through practical, culturally responsive approaches grounded in relationships with Country and community.
Her work focuses on translating cultural frameworks into meaningful everyday practice that strengthens educator confidence, cultural capability, and authentic partnerships with local knowledge holders.
Tammy Baart
Lesley Woodhouse & Brielle Nielsen
Tammy Baart
Founder, Blak Ignited
Workshop:
What You Didn’t Consider…
Tammy Baart is a proud Dharug woman of the Boorooberongal clan and owner of Blak Ignited. With over two decades of educational leadership experience across Government and Independent schools, Tammy works at the intersection of Cultural Intelligence, emotional intelligence, and leade
Founder, Blak Ignited
Workshop:
What You Didn’t Consider…
Tammy Baart is a proud Dharug woman of the Boorooberongal clan and owner of Blak Ignited. With over two decades of educational leadership experience across Government and Independent schools, Tammy works at the intersection of Cultural Intelligence, emotional intelligence, and leadership.
In this powerful session, Tammy uses the What You Didn’t Consider cultural safety card deck to challenge unseen assumptions, microaggressions, and performative inclusion. Through guided reflection and courageous conversation, participants will unpack the barriers that often go unnoticed and gain practical strategies to move toward genuine cultural safety in schools and learning communities.
Rebecca Bridge
Lesley Woodhouse & Brielle Nielsen
Tammy Baart
Brisbane Montessori School
Workshop:
The Montessori Approach to building Culturally Safe Practices for Children Under 3
Rebecca Bridge is a proud Marrawarri woman and early childhood educator based in Brisbane. With over a decade of experience in Montessori toddler environments, she holds an AMI Montessori 0–3 Diploma and a Diploma in C
Brisbane Montessori School
Workshop:
The Montessori Approach to building Culturally Safe Practices for Children Under 3
Rebecca Bridge is a proud Marrawarri woman and early childhood educator based in Brisbane. With over a decade of experience in Montessori toddler environments, she holds an AMI Montessori 0–3 Diploma and a Diploma in Children’s Services.
Rebecca’s work centres on building culturally safe, responsive relationships with young children and their families. In this workshop, she explores how intentional early learning environments nurture identity, belonging, and strong self image, ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and all children, grow within spaces grounded in respect and cultural integrity.
Lesley Woodhouse & Brielle Nielsen
Lesley Woodhouse & Brielle Nielsen
Lesley Woodhouse & Brielle Nielsen
Lesley Woodhouse - Founder & CEO, Wingaru Education
Brielle Nielsen - Aboriginal Education Specialist
Workshop:
Walking Together: A Shared Commitment to Aboriginal Education.
Lesley Woodhouse is a proud Boorooberongal Dharug woman and Founder of Wingaru Education, an Aboriginal owned organisation supporting schools to embed Aboriginal and T
Lesley Woodhouse - Founder & CEO, Wingaru Education
Brielle Nielsen - Aboriginal Education Specialist
Workshop:
Walking Together: A Shared Commitment to Aboriginal Education.
Lesley Woodhouse is a proud Boorooberongal Dharug woman and Founder of Wingaru Education, an Aboriginal owned organisation supporting schools to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives across teaching and learning. With a background in education, policy and community engagement, Lesley leads the development of digital resources and professional learning that empower educators to teach with confidence, respect and cultural integrity.
Brielle Nielsen is a proud Dharug woman from the Cabrogal clan with over 15 years of classroom teaching experience. Her work focuses on embedding Aboriginal knowledge and cultural perspectives into meaningful learning experiences. With extensive experience in Juvenile Justice Education Training Units, Brielle supports schools to create culturally safe environments that strengthen identity, engagement and positive outcomes for Aboriginal students.
Paris Beasy & Destiny Paris
Lesley Woodhouse & Brielle Nielsen
Lesley Woodhouse & Brielle Nielsen
CSIRO
Workshop:
Investigate and Innovate: Indigenous STEM
Paris Beasy is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman and holds a Bachelor of Science from Monash University. She is the Project Lead of Innovate and Investigate: Indigenous STEM Education Resources at CSIRO, where she develops curriculum-aligned resources that embed Aboriginal and T
CSIRO
Workshop:
Investigate and Innovate: Indigenous STEM
Paris Beasy is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman and holds a Bachelor of Science from Monash University. She is the Project Lead of Innovate and Investigate: Indigenous STEM Education Resources at CSIRO, where she develops curriculum-aligned resources that embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander science, culture, and Knowledges into classrooms.
Destiny is a third‑generation Australian and a committed ally and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Since joining CSIRO’s Deadly in Generation STEM team in 2021, she has played a pivotal role in co‑designing and co‑delivering the program within her local Illawarra community and supporting its growth into new regions.
Participants will trial practical strategies and leave with tools to embed Indigenous STEM in ways that are respectful, rigorous, and meaningful for primary and secondary students.