About First Peoples Leading
First Peoples Leading (FPL) was established to develop great leaders who are also First Nations Peoples. FPL is a unique suite of professional coaching and development programs tailored for the experiences of First Nations leaders working in government, private sector businesses, and community and not-for-profit organisations.
Programs are delivered by highly experienced First Nations leaders from Thirriwirri, along with topic experts from Executive Central, Choose Coaching & MobCo.
The program team use their extensive senior leadership experience to share unique insights and tips for overcoming the assumptions, attitudes and biases that too often create barriers to First Peoples’ succeeding in leadership roles.
The FPL suite provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with leadership tools, workshops, mentoring, coaching and networks at all levels as you progress throughout your career.
Each FPL program is specifically tailored to deliver improved leadership and management skills and foster:
Sound theoretical understanding, combined with practical advice on how to survive and thrive in leadership roles
Greater level of self-awareness and understanding of the impact of emotional intelligence
High-level facilitation, negotiation and influencing capacity
High-level skills in leading teams and building a culture of high performance
Learning from peers’ experiences and approaches to common leadership issues
Pragmatic implementation of learning skills into the workplace
Mircocredentials
Our programs meet the Australian Government National Microcredentials Framework and industry standards.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to create First Nations leaders that are equipped with the agility and confidence to respond adaptively and with dignity to the unprecedented complexity and pace of change experienced by our communities and organisations.
First Peoples Leading Board
Leadership Programs for First Nations People
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NEXT GEN
Our NEXT GEN program is for First Nations people who are aspiring people leaders.
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IMPACT
FPL Impact is designed for First Nations people who are experienced team and people leaders.
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CHANGEMAKERS
Change makers is tailored for First Nations people who are experienced senior leaders and executives.
Culturally Intelligent Allyship Programs for Non-First Nations People
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Allying for Impact
A Cultural Intelligence program for non-First Nations people leaders who want to walk alongside First peoples to create systemic change.
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Allying Every Day
For non-First Nations people who want to develop their Cultural Intelligence to be good allies in their workplace and community.
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![Sienna Coleman | NSW Government Program Manager – Microsoft]()
Sienna Coleman | NSW Government Program Manager – Microsoft
"I was incredibly lucky to be selected by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to take part in the Thirriwirri First Peoples Leading program. Over the past three months I had the privilege to share and learn from other First Nations leaders from both private and government sectors. We laughed, we cried, and we learnt an almighty lot about how to lead with purpose, resilience and authenticity. It was an experience that I will take with me through the rest of my career.”
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![Adrian Cheatham]()
Adrian Cheatham | Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium
“FPL helped me to confidently navigate a sidestep out of the Australian Public Service after 13 years, to pursue a passion for advancing reconciliation and Indigenous engagement strategies. The 1 to 1 coaching sessions helped me to identify and harness my strengths to remain confident and to be successful in my new role.”
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![Taylah Griffin]()
Taylah Griffin | Aerospace Engineer – Boeing Defence
"As an early career professional, I feel like I'm ahead of the pack having done FPL. This course gave me the skills and confidence that will be foundational to my success as an Indigenous leader. And not only that, I have now created a strong network of mob from around the country who are all amazing leaders in their own right. I couldn't recommend FPL higher.”
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![Charlie Trindall]()
Charlie Trindall | Operations Manager – MLAHMC & Chair ACHIA
“I found the First Peoples Leading Program to be very empowering and informative, having access to the resources and other like minded leaders through the network and the coaches has helped me to aim to be the best leader I can be.”
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![Frances Rings]()
Frances Rings | Associate Artistic Director – Bangarra Dance Theatre
“Thanks to the coaches and facilitators of FPL for guiding us through an experience that at times was confronting and revealing, while always ensuring we were in a safe and trusted environment. I feel so much more aware of not only my own strengths and operating style but how I can best use this to service my role at work and my family.”
First Peoples Leading is a registered Not-For-Profit organisation that aims to offer supported places to First Nations community organistions to access high quality leadership development programs.
Some of the organisations we work with
Acknowledgement of Country
We pay our respects to Elders and community leaders, and those leaders that came before us, who for millennia have maintained the world’s oldest surviving cultures and who have made it possible for us to do what we do. We acknowledge the strength and innovation of our young people, the leaders and Elders of the future.
We acknowledge our families, who have always supported us to dream big and who continue to support us as Thirriwirri evolves.
We also pay respect to the non-First Nation people we work with who share our vision for an empowered, prosperous and culturally assured First Nations Australia.