cultural training

Djirra’s cultural training programs are designed for the legal profession and justice-related sectors, including lawyers, judiciary, courts, legal services, policymakers and decision-makers.

The programs are particularly relevant for professionals working in family violence, child protection, family law and related systems where Aboriginal women and children are disproportionately impacted.

Now In Session, Djirra’s new cultural training program, was developed over 12 months by our Cultural Engagement and Legal teams, integrating deep cultural knowledge with specialist legal expertise.

Grounded in Djirra’s role as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, the training centres the voices of Aboriginal women through storytelling, imagery, sound and dialogue, while examining how historical and contemporary laws, policies and systems shape lived experiences of the justice system.

Delivered in a culturally safe learning environment, the program explores the gendered nature of violence, the ongoing impacts of colonisation, systemic racism and intergenerational trauma, and how these contribute to fear and distrust of legal institutions.

The training aligns with the Framework for First Nations Cultural Capability in the Legal Profession and demonstrates Djirra’s ongoing work navigating systemic racism and providing wraparound legal and cultural support.

The program builds on Djirra’s established Yarnin About Cultural Safety (YACS) and Heard It Here First (HIHF) programs, which have reached hundred of participants. New intensive modules are available with flexible delivery options, including Family Violence, Child Protection, Family Law, Misidentification, Intergenerational Trauma and the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Djirra’s cultural training goes beyond awareness, to challenge how the law operates in practice and how it impacts daily life for Aboriginal women, children, and communities. Participants gain a deeper understanding of their professional role within systems that can either perpetuate harm or contribute to safety, trust and self-determination.

Having been presented to the Victorian Legal Services Board Commissioner and others in October 2025 with overwhelmingly positive feedback, the training supports organisations to strengthen cultural accountability, meet professional capability expectations, and engage more ethically and effectively with Aboriginal women and communities.