Introduction
Koorie Women Mean Business (KWMB) received funding from the Binjirru Regional Council to work with Elders in the development of a process to formalise existing cultural protocols. KWMB’s approach was to work with the Goulbourn Valley Aboriginal Elders Group in a two-day workshop. Youth from the Goulbourn Valley area attended for some of the sessions. The workshop was interactive with discussion by Elders and youth on a range of issues.

The Workshop

Key themes emerging from the workshop included:

role of Elders

relationships

cultural values

protocols

A key issue was the need to separate the role of community organisations and the core business of service delivery of the orgainsation from the assumed role role of authorities and spokespersons on cultural matters. Community organisations have been established to provide particular services to the community however they have become the "voice" of the community to ensure that the views put forward by the organisation are the views of the community.



A proposal was put forward that the Goulbourn Valley Aboriginal Elders Group take a more active role to comment on the issues of importance to the community. It was agreed that this matter would need to be discussed at length with the wider group however there is support for the concept from the workshop. The group discussed the possibility of the Goulbourn Valley Aboriginal Elders Group having its own web site. This was seen as a project that could involve elders and young people working together with the Elders providing the wisdom, knowledge and experience on the issues and the young people providing the technical know-how.