The Meeting Point
Transform your allyship to walk together for a better future
We acknowledge Traditional Custodians and all First Peoples' of the lands on which we live, and the pathways to Voice, Truth and Treaty. Always was, always will be Aboriginal lands.
The journey
Learn with us to contribute to an enduring transformation of allyship
What does it mean for non-Indigenous Australians to live responsibly on this land?
How do we walk with First Peoples for a better future?
What is our work to do?
The Meeting Point is a program for ngamatji (non-Indigenous people, in Woi Wurrung, the language of the Wurundjeri peoples) who want to engage more seriously with the responsibilities of living on this land.
Many of us sense that something more is required of us in relation to First Peoples sovereignty and justice, but are unsure what that asks of us in practice. The Meeting Point brings people together to explore these questions and to consider what respectful relationship with First Peoples might require of us.
Grounded in First Peoples perspectives and texts such as Living on Stolen Land by Ambelin Kwaymullina, the program creates space for reflection, conversation and learning together. In doing so, it responds to the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
‘The Meeting Point is an invaluable addition to the dialogue between cultures. It effectively engages allies in a safe space, providing opportunities to exploring the biases in self and society. Highly recommended experience for all who are serious about engaging in this space.’
The Venerable Canon Uncle Glenn Loughrey
Contributor to The Meeting Point
‘One of the things I wanted to get out of the program was to decide where to put my effort after the disappointing referendum result.’
Kate Noble, Sustainability Manager, Public Sector, Participant
You may arrive at The Meeting Point with a sense that something needs to change, but without clarity about where to put your effort.
For many people the Meeting Point experience begins as an emotional journey. Over time it deepens through learning, honest conversation and the building of relationships with First Peoples, with place and Country, and with the more-than-human world.
This work does not demand anything of First Peoples. It asks something of us.
As understanding grows, so does a sense of responsibility. From there you begin to consider what respectful contribution and allyship might look like in your own life, community and work.
Program
How the program works
The Meeting Point runs over four months and combines face-to-face gatherings with online conversations and reflection between sessions.
You will meet together on Country in a number of locations, creating a structured space for shared learning, honest conversation and time to reflect.
The group itself becomes an important part of the learning. Through listening to one another's questions, experiences and uncertainties, you begin to work through the challenges of allyship together.
Between gatherings you continue reading, reflecting and experimenting with what you are learning in your own life and work.
What we explore together
Over time you will spend exploring questions that sit at the heart of respectful relationship and responsible allyship.
This includes reflecting on what it means to live as settlers on this land, understanding the ongoing impacts of colonialism, and recognising the ways non-Indigenous people can unintentionally reproduce harm.
Together we explore how difficult emotions can become part of learning, how relationships with First Peoples and with Country can deepen over time, and how leadership and allyship might be practised in ways that respect self-determination.
The work is practical as well as reflective, helping you consider where you may choose to place your energy and influence going forward.
Methodology
- •Allyship as an act of leadership. Both are behaviours and ongoing practices.
- •Place is an active teacher. During the course we will move from the Koorie Heritage Trust, on the Birrarung (Wurundjeri Country), CERES (Wurundjeri Country), and Mount Rothwell (Wadawurrung Country).
- •The group is an active teacher. People bring different life experiences, perspectives and are at different stages which all contributes to our collective learning.
- •Preparation and experimentation are ingredients in learning.
Program format
- •An online welcome orientation session
- •4 face to face days
- •3 online practice sessions
The Group
- •Maximum group size is 20 people
- •Our previous groups included people from professional services, health, education, real estate, community services, local and state government, water, transport, sport and investment sectors. It also included participants who joined for their own learning and desire to progress their allyship.
‘We can confidently say that the program is designed to meet the diverse needs of participants. Whether you're just beginning your journey or further along, this program supports all stages of growth. The program has been found to meet people where they are at while also stretching them.’
People Measures' independent evaluation
What participants say
People who have taken part in The Meeting Point often describe the experience as challenging, reflective and deeply relational.
Jill Sears, Head of People and Culture, Legal & Professional Services Industry
[A change from participating in The Meeting Point is] the clarity I have and the sense of ease and comfort with the scope of the challenges and the things I don't know. I feel able to grapple with the complexity with less ego, less pressure and a sense that how it is, is okay, neither good nor bad, just as it is and the sense of clarity (like putting on new glasses with the right lenses), I have regarding allyship allows me to more easily plot a path. My confidence in [my allyship] has grown since starting The Meeting Point and with that my motivation and sense of 'what is possible' has increased.
Michelle, HR Consultant, Higher Education
[Participating in the Meeting Point has been] absolutely a mind shift opportunity. It helped me heal from some old wounds and become stronger in my action to be an ally and ditch being a saviour - which I did not even know was happening. Before the program I was aware of the idea [of allyship] and felt I knew more - but I didn't. I am now aware of my role, what belongs to me and what does not belong to Indigenous First Nation's people. I feel more confident in being an ally and comfortable with what I still don't know.
Karen Woo, Sustainability Manager, Community, Vicinity Centres
The program has been an inner transformation – realising how much I didn't know and still don't know, to check our motives, to actively listen, to provide a platform for First Nation voices, a better understanding of colonial load, better awareness of & sensitivity to racism in the workplace and society, to advocate in quiet ways and not occupy space.
Christine Bell, Volunteer Coordination & Development Officer, Local Government
[From joining The Meeting Point] I am no longer afraid to embrace and express personal feelings of empathy and understanding, which I now see as essential for genuine connection and growth. I've noticed that many people are hesitant to approach the unknown, often feeling trepidation about asking questions. This has reinforced the importance of creating safe spaces for open and honest dialogue. I feel more educated and confident in understanding the significance of allyship. This has shaped how I engage with others, striving to be a supportive and informed ally in all areas of life.
‘All participants, regardless of where they are in their journey, would recommend this program.’
People Measures, Independent Evaluation
Dates & Times
Welcome email
Friday 19 June
Welcome email including what to expect and preparation for Welcome Orientation session
Session 1 | Welcome Orientation
Friday 10 July, 9.45am for 10am - 12pm, online
Zoom
Session 2 | Beginning
Thursday 16 July, 9.15 for 9.30am - 5pm, face-to-face
Koorie Heritage Trust, Kulin Nation
Session 3 | Being
Friday 17 July, 9.15 for 9.30am - 5pm, face-to-face
Koorie Heritage Trust, Kulin Nation
Session 4 | Changemaking Practice
Friday 31 July, 9.45am for 10am - 12pm, online
Zoom
Session 5 | Belonging
Friday 14 August, 9.15 for 9.30am - 5pm, face-to-face
CERES, Brunswick East, Wurundjeri Country
Session 6 | Changemaking Practice
Friday 4 September, 9.45am for 10am - 12pm, online
Zoom
Session 7 | Connection
Friday 18 September, 9.45 for 10am - 5pm, face-to-face
Mount Rothwell Safe Haven, Wadawurrung Country
Session 8 | Changemaking Practice
Friday 9 October, 9.45am for 10am - 12pm, online
Zoom
We strongly recommend
The Meeting Point is not a program to simply turn up to. We strongly recommend you create time and space for yourself between the program days for reading, reflecting and connecting. We suggest you allow 2-4 hours between sessions.
Investment
Program fee: $2,850
This includes:
- •A copy of Living on Stolen Land, by Ambelin Kwaymullina
- •Welcome orientation session online (2 hrs)
- •4 face to face days (8 hrs each) with catering for lunch & tea
- •3 online sessions (2 hrs each)
- •Access to content & activities to support your learning & preparation for sessions
- •Ongoing learning group to the extent you wish to take this up
Transport to and from venues for the face to face days is not included.
Financial Equity Principles
- •All Contributors are paid for their contributions & time.
- •Angela and Lisa are paid for the days they facilitate at the same rate as Contributors receive. They otherwise donate their time to plan, design, prepare, promote, administer etc. The Meeting Point and receive no financial compensation.
- •All venues, caterers, and other suppliers are paid for their services. We preference First Nations led businesses & organisations.
Equity of Access Principle
We have a principle of equity of access. If the cost of participation is not affordable for you, but you feel the program will be of real benefit, please contact us at hello@themeetingpoint.net to discuss how you might participate. Similarly if you are able to contribute more because of your means, please get in touch.
A word on allyship .....
Language matters.
And we've been grappling with this one for some time.
The term ‘allyship’ carries weight precisely because it challenges us to move beyond comfortable rhetoric into the realm of shared responsibility and concrete action. When responding to the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, non-Indigenous people must do more than simply declare themselves allies – we must consistently show up, listen deeply, and actively contribute to dismantling colonial structures while respecting First Nations leadership.
We've tried other words, but sometimes the discomfort around ‘allyship’ is useful because it makes us stop and think about what true partnership really means in practice, not just in principle.
Evaluation
‘Being an ally is about showing up consistently, wherever you are.’
Gill Harris, Consultant, People Measures, Professional Services, 2024 Participant
Evaluation of the program by People Measures
The Meeting Point set out to transform allyship as a practice.
An independent evaluation by People Measures found 5 key themes emerged consistently across participant responses: emotional journey, allyship in practice, deep ongoing learning journey, accountability, and building relationships. These themes highlight the program's ability to balance personal reflection, practical application, and sustained learning in allyship development.
This program included participants with varying levels of awareness and experience, yet all engaged with the same core themes.
As a result, we can confidently say that the program is designed to meet the diverse needs of participants. Whether you're just beginning your journey or further along, this program supports all stages of growth. The program has been found to meet people where they are at while also stretching them.
The survey results from this program show that 100% of participants, regardless of where they are in their journey, would recommend this program.
If you'd like to know more about the evaluation, please get in touch: hello@themeetingpoint.net
‘What really stood out to me was that allyship is an act of leadership. That was not something I had considered before.’
Tarity Fischer, Project Manager, Youth Mental Health, Participant
Our ethical grounding
‘For me, it is yindyamarra, a Wiradjuri concept which means to act with honour and respect, wisdom, to go slowly and act responsibly, be gentle and polite and honest with each other, be careful of the words and actions you put out to the world and understand the impact they have.’
Professor Michael McDaniel
AIATSIS Council Chair
AIATSIS Code of EthicsIntegrity and respect
We are guided by First Peoples', AIATSIS Code of Ethics and Ambelin Kwaymullina's book of prose ‘Living on Stolen Land’, to act in the right spirit, with integrity and with respect for Country and for all living things.
Humility and listening
- •We regularly ask ourselves and reflect on what is our work to do, as ngamatji living on Aboriginal lands.
- •We centre First Nations contributors, voice, content and practices where appropriate.
- •We build relationships for the long term, and in place.
- •We prioritise experiential and relational learning with compassion and generosity.
- •We take responsibility for our own learning, knowing we will still make mistakes.
Who we are
Your guides
The Meeting Point has been developed by Lisa Croxford and Angela Rutter, in conversation and collaboration with First Peoples and non-Indigenous allies.
Lisa and Angela have worked together at Leadership Victoria designing and facilitating experiential leadership programs which build civic leadership capacity and elevate First Nations voices, perspectives, and knowledge. Angela participated in the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (2021) with the University of Melbourne and Atlantic Institute, where the development of The Meeting Point was the focus for her Masters in Social Change Leadership.
The Meeting Point in its entirety is an practice of allyship, and is in response to the invitation extended in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The Meeting Point is an independent, not-for-profit organisation registered as a charity with the ACNC.
Our story to here ....
‘Once upon a time there were two ngamatji (non-indigenous in Woi Wurrung) women. They talked, experimented and reflected regularly on what they might do to accept the invitation in the Statement from the Heart.
One day they decided to create a learning program to explore with other Ngamatji (non-indigenous) people how we get off our collective butts and do the work we need to do: to understand our own stories and relationships to people and places; to embrace our obligations and responsibilities living here; and much, much more.
They spoke to lots of people, consulted, got advice, opinions, and input. They worked with an Advisory Group of smart, kind people who know how to give provocative and helpful feedback. They had generous support from their workplaces (hi People Measures).
But people also warned them.
‘You're walking a fine line.’ ‘Is this your work to do?’ (and more reasons not to.) They could feel their fragility prickle with reasons to do ... nothing.
They stopped, started, meandered, feeling their way along. They campaigned on the Voice. They got on with the work. Determined.
Determined, not in a way that ‘helps’, or is ‘supportive’ or that is ‘do gooder’ in allyship, but because our collective future relies on it.
Determined because there is reckoning that we need to do that will be messy and uncomfortable, but will have us engage in new and positive ways.
The Meeting Point has been created to build a space for non-Indigenous people to do the work we need to do. To find the place to meet one another and practice enduring allyship. And contribute to a movement to walk with First Nations peoples for a better future, together.
We are excited to invite you to be part of The Meeting Point.
‘Decolonised futures
are what we create
together.’Ambelin Kwaymullina,
Futures, Living on Stolen Land
With thanks
Thanks & deep appreciation
This initiative has emerged from provocations offered by the Statement from the Heart and Ambelin Kwaymullina's ‘Living on Stolen Land’, and First Nations and non-Indigenous change-makers who hold in their hearts, minds and hopes a different vision for our future, together.
The Meeting Point is made possible with the generous support of First Nations and non-Indigenous peoples including the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity and Atlantic Institute, The Meeting Point Advisory Group, Karen Millward, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, and People Measures in helping shape and evaluate this initiative.
We also deeply thankful to
- •the people in the inaugural group in 2024 who gave thoughtful feedback from their experience & all of those who contributed to the program
- •Tony Barrett for his generous advice & support in operationalising The Meeting Point
- •Liz Vagg for her photographs & capturing the essence of The Meeting Point.
‘Decolonised futures
are what we create
together.’Ambelin Kwaymullina,
Futures, Living on Stolen Land