External Training Programs

Walk alongside us to learn more about working with Aboriginal communities

VACCA offers a range of training programs to organisations, companies, government and individuals, particularly those working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and community.

Our training programs are developed by our team of expert Aboriginal facilitators, combining uniquely Aboriginal ways of being, knowing and doing with contemporary evidence-based learning and more than 47 years of VACCA’s experience working with community.

Let us support your journey to strengthen your cultural awareness and build your confidence in delivering culturally safe practice.

We look forward to sharing our culture with you.

Tailored Training Packages

Looking for something specific?
We can create a training program to suit your needs.

Email for more details

Find the right training program for you or your organisation

If you need any more information, get in touch - trainingevents@vacca.org

Cultural Awareness Training (groups)

Cultural Awareness Training (individuals)

‘It was the most informative workshop
I have undertaken.’

Clarisse Slater

Yorta Yorta, Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri

Senior Manager and Senior Facilitator

Clarisse brings a wealth of cultural and practice wisdom to her role, having worked at VACCA for over 10 years, as well as other organisations including The Bouverie Centre, Elizabeth Morgan House and Beyond Blue.

As a Family Therapist, Clarisse is passionate about therapeutic care, cultural safety and trauma informed practice. She is a highly skilled facilitator and enjoys creating safe spaces for conversations to be shared.

Clarisse loves building respectful relationships with external organisations to understand their goals and develop training packages to support their learning and development needs. Clarisse is a mother of two young girls and enjoys spending time with family, practicing yoga and pilates, and being in nature.

Donald Callope

Angumathimaree

Senior Facilitator

Uncle Don has worked at VACCA for more than 7 years, including more than 5 years as a facilitator in our External Training team. He has extensive experience in developing programs and events as a Project Officer and Community Engagement Facilitator. He has worked with Aboriginal people and communities in regional, remote and urban areas, and with Traditional Owner Organisations, Industrial Relations and government.

Uncle Don enjoys facilitating cultural awareness workshops where he supports participants to learn more and increase their confidence to engage and provide a culturally appropriate service for Aboriginal people and community. In his spare time, Uncle Don enjoys cooking and watching sci-fi movies.

Jake Butterworth

Wagiman and Ngan'gimerri

Senior Facilitator

Jake is a proud Wagiman and Ngan’gimerri man (Daly River, Northern Territory), who was born on Yuwibara country and raised in Narrm. Jake joined the growing external training team in late 2024.

Jake brings diverse experience from both his Exercise Science Degree and his previous leadership role in an AOD service. This allows Jake to contextualise the programs he facilitates giving participant real world examples of things they may experience working with Aboriginal clients and communities both in the allied health and community services sectors, and why cultural safety and sensitivity are so important in those engagement.

Jake is a strong family man. With his sisters, he owns and operates an Aboriginal art and retail business. Jake believes sharing our culture both through education and art will help make Australia and the world a safer place for our babies.

‘Presented information in a way that allowed for reflection and learning without judgement.’

Who we've helped

1000+

participants
80+

organisations

‘I really appreciated the way in which the workshop was presented. Conversations felt open and safe, which I believe is important to promote when discussing something so important.’

‘Presented information in a way that allowed for reflection and learning without judgement. ’

‘This was an amazing training and I would recommend it to anyone. The safety created in the room made for such authentic and honest conversations.’

‘I came away from this training with a renewed confidence and determination that I can make a difference and some practical strategies to start that journey.’

‘I would strongly encourage all child and family workers to complete this training.’

‘Beautiful facilitation, full of compassion, vulnerability, authenticity and genuine, practical ideas. ’

‘Brilliant training that is so important in creating partnerships between Aboriginal and mainstream to bring about better outcomes for Australia as a whole.’

‘This is one of the best training experiences I have had. Reflective, challenging and compassionate. I will recommend it to everyone who works in my sector.’

‘Thank you so much for putting this training together and sharing so much with us. A must do for anyone living, working or studying in so-called Australia. Should be mandatory to undertake, I believe. ’

Our partners and clients

We support the learning and development needs of many child and family welfare workers across Victoria. We have current ongoing training partnerships with:

We have also delivered training to organisations such as:

Victoria Police
Women's Legal Service Victoria
Benalla Health
Forensicare
Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC)
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
Inner Melbourne Community Legal
South West Health Care
Mallee Family Care
Satellite Foundation
MIND
Gateway Health
Youth2Industry College
Parkville College
Melton City Council
Neami National
Alanna and Madeline Foundation
Girl Guides Victoria
Banksia Gardens
Box Hill TAFE
Bright Labs
CASA Gippsland
Uniting Care
Youth Junction Inc.
Bayside Peninsula Child & Family Services Alliance
National Health Practitioner Ombudsman
Victorian Multicultural Commission
Mitchell Shire Council
Warrnambool City Council
Early Learning Association Australia

Our training programs

Find the right training program for you or your organisation

If you need any more information, get in touch - trainingevents@vacca.org

Cultural Awareness Training (groups)

Cultural Awareness Training (individuals)

‘It was the most informative workshop
I have undertaken.’

Our facilitators

Clarisse Slater

Yorta Yorta, Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri

Senior Manager and Senior Facilitator

Donald Callope

Angumathimaree

Senior Facilitator

Jake Butterworth

Wagiman and Ngan'gimerri

Senior Facilitator

Jake is a proud Wagiman and Ngan’gimerri man (Daly River, Northern Territory), who was born on Yuwibara country and raised in Narrm. Jake joined the growing external training team in late 2024.

‘Presented information in a way that allowed for reflection and learning without judgement.’

Who we've helped

1000+

participants
80+

organisations