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:

Interactive Discussions to share insight and reflect on lessons learned
Practical Tools and Models developed to support First Nations families through complex systems
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:

Gail Beck, Executive Cultural Advisor

Ivan Dossugi, Team Lead - Mobile Outreach, South-East Tenancy and Wongee Mia, Ruah Community Services

Agenda

9:00

Registration & Welcome to country

9:30

Interactive Workshop Session:

Navigating the Housing and Homelessness System Working With Elders

Hear from Elders and clients offering cultural grounding and wisdom to guide the conversations
Exploring Family Connections
Learning from Lived Experience

10:45

Morning Tea

11:15

Interactive Workshop Session:

Housing Options & The Importance of Location Interconnected Caseload