Len Tregonning
Len is a Gunai/Kurnai man from Gippsland, currently employed by the Koorie Heritage Trust as the Cross Cultural Coordinator, working with a diverse range of groups. Len brings a unique perspective to the training program as he has held a range of roles with an educational perspective with both government and Aboriginal organisations.
These roles have included outreach health work, 12 years within the employment and industrial relations area and a number of project, consultancy and research roles with organisations including the Aboriginal Advancement League, Aboriginal Community Elders Services and the Victorian Records Taskforce. Len was also one of the first Aboriginal tertiary students in Victoria, attending Swinburne Institute in the mid 1970s, undertaking the Community Organisation Skills course.
Len has played a central role in the facilitation of the CRT program and was involved in the start up and pilot phase of the project. He continues to facilitate day one of the course with a particular focus on identity, pre and post colonisation experiences of Aboriginal people, with a specific Victorian focus right up to the Referendum of 1967. Len also takes on the responsibility of involving local elders in each region to the Welcome to Country at the beginning of each two day program.
Karen Milward
Karen is a Yorta Yorta woman who was born and raised in Melbourne. Karen has had a varied professional career that has seen her take on leadership roles with the public sector, including Aboriginal Affairs Victoria from 1999 to 2004. Karen is a highly experienced facilitator delivering and providing advice to projects across family violence, education, health and community strengthening fields. Karen also continues to be strongly involved in leadership roles within her local Aboriginal community in the eastern Melbourne suburbs.
Karen is a strong advocate for developing culturally appropriate solutions to the issues confronting Indigenous people that empower individuals and communities to effectively move forward. Karen commenced facilitating day two of the CRT program in 2007 with a particular focus on the cycle of discrimination, building the contemporary picture of Aboriginal organisations in Victoria and key Aboriginal policy agendas within the department. Participants are also heavily involved with interactive scenarios to support greater cultural awareness back in participants' different work situations.