STRENGTHEN CULTURE AND CONNECTION
WONGEE MIA WORKSHOP & CULTURAL CRUISE
Thursday, 11 September 2025

Led by the award-winning Wongee Mia team of Ruah Community Services,
this workshop offers a hands-on, culturally grounded extension of the forum’s core
themes. This immersive workshop offers:
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Interactive Discussions to share insight and reflect on lessons learned
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Practical Tools and Models developed to support First Nations families through complex systems
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A Cultural Tour in collaboration with Port River Cruise, connecting you to Kaurna land, language and tradition​
This is your chance to consolidate the insights, relationships, and strategies you’ll
gain at the forum in a setting designed to support healing, cultural exchange, and
long-term collaboration.

Wongee Mia is a groundbreaking project supporting one extended Aboriginal family to break the cycle of intergenerational homelessness. With a flexible, relationship-based model where support workers hold the whole family as their caseload. Wongee Mia has become a globally recognised example of best-practice in sustainable, culturally respectful housing.
FACILITATORS:
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Murray Riley, Service Lead Cultural Advice and Employment
Corina Dunnachie, Service Lead Housing and Homelessness
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Agenda
9:00
Registration & Welcome to country
9:30
Interactive Workshop Sessions:
** Attendees will be assigned into 2 groups **
​Group 1: Navigating the Housing and Homelessness System Working With Elders
Group 2: Housing Options & The Importance of Location Interconnected Caseload
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Hear from Elders and clients offering cultural grounding and wisdom to guide the conversations
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Exploring Family Connections
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Learning from Lived Experience
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Understanding Case Management in the Wongee Mia program
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Sharing Successes and Identifying Challenges: Through open yarning, groups will discuss both the wins and the hurdles they've experienced or observed, fostering a space for collective learning and solution-building.
10:45
Morning Tea
11:15
Interactive Workshop Sessions:
Group 1: Housing Options & The Importance of Location Interconnected Caseload
Group 2: Navigating the Housing and Homelessness System Working With Elders
-
Understanding Case Management in the Wongee Mia program
-
Sharing Successes and Identifying Challenges: Through open yarning, groups will discuss both the wins and the hurdles they've experienced or observed, fostering a space for collective learning and solution-building.
-
Hear from Elders and clients offering cultural grounding and wisdom to guide the conversations
-
Exploring Family Connections
-
Learning from Lived Experience
** Groups Come together**
12:30
Lunch
1:30
Bus departure for cruise
2:00
Port River Cultural Cruise
Enjoy an experience out on the water learning about Kuarna Cultural History with a Kaurna-Ngarringjeri-Yankunytjatjara Elder Allan Sumner. They will be your guide on this cruise incorporating country and boat-based experiences. Allan has a passionate interest in dreaming stories and is also a world-renowned artist and musician.
3:30
Cruise concludes, bus back to venue
4:00
Refreshments & Networking
4:30
End of Workshop