Overview
Motivated to grow within a culturally supportive environment, Joe joined IDEP to step outside his comfort zone and reach his potential. The program provided a unique space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public servants to connect, embrace challenges, and strengthen leadership skills.
Program
Indigenous Development & Empowerment Program (IDEP)
Focus
Culturally safe leadership development
Benefits
Confidence, mentorship, and connection
Challenge
The biggest hurdle? Feeling uncomfortable in unfamiliar settings. Like many others entering a leadership program for the first time, the fear of stepping into unknown territory was real. But that feeling didn’t last long.
Solution
By the end of the very first IDEP workshop, that discomfort had shifted. Engaging in open, honest conversations with his cohort, simply having a yarn, transformed his mindset.
The power of culturally safe connection and support played a pivotal role in breaking down barriers and building confidence.
Participating in IDEP has meant everything for me. Over the past 2 and a half years, I have grown personally and professionally, developed the confidence to speak up on things that matter, and attend some amazing conferences. I highly recommend IDEP for anyone considering applying.
Results
- Confidence and Mentorship: One of the most significant outcomes of participating in IDEP has been a profound boost in confidence. Joe now feels empowered to mentor other Indigenous employees in the APS, something he would never have imagined before the program.
- Professional Growth: IDEP has supported both personal and professional development. From learning to speak up on important issues to attending national conferences, the program has opened doors that once felt out of reach.
- Strong Connections: The face-to-face workshops stand out as the highlight of the program, bringing the cohort together to learn, connect, and strengthen their networks while working through core focus areas of IDEP.