Yarn Up
Yarn Up is a forum specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in community legal centres and is held on the Monday of the Quarterly event week. For further information about Yarn Up, contact Zachary Armytage, Aboriginal Legal Access Program Coordinator zachary@clcnsw.org.au. You can also find all of CLCNSW's upcoming events here.
Big Yarn Up
In 2022, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working at community legal centres across New South Wales gathered for two days on Gumbaynggirr Country in Coffs Harbour for Big Yarn Up.
This significant gathering was the first of its kind. It was designed by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who work in the community legal sector.
Big Yarn was recuperative and collaborative event that focused on cultural self-care, developing principles for First Nations employment, and connecting with communities across the state. The program focused on:
- Developing principles to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment in the community legal sector.
- Cultural self-care and vicarious trauma.
- Social and legal issues: policy and practice that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Yarning about experiences in a culturally-safe environment and connecting with the community.
“I felt like I could talk openly and honestly about cultural safety. I felt heard and understood. I felt connected.” — Dean McLaren, Intellectual Disability Rights Service
“Big Yarn Up is an important gathering for Aboriginal workers in our sector. I believe it is important that the voices of employees and clients are heard and that culturally appropriate policies and service delivery is implemented across the sector to ensure that we are best supporting workers and clients to ensure equal access to justice.” — Attendee at Big Yarn Up
“It is paramount to our culture and kinship to have events like this, event such as this will continue to assist the reconnections and decolonisation.” — Oliver John Williams, Seniors Rights Service
“Big Yarn Up was an incredible opportunity for Aboriginal people working in the community legal centre sector to create relationships and engage about our shared experiences. I formed some great connections, and had some deep and meaningful yarns about working in this sector as an Aboriginal person, and I will take what I learnt back to my organisation so we can continue learning and improving.” — Attendee at Big Yarn Up
All expenses — flights and travel costs, accomodation, venue hire, and food — were be paid for by Community Legal Centres NSW with National Legal Assistance Partnership funding made available by the NSW Attorney General.