Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm (2 hours)

Date: Tuesday 3 March

Location: Online (Zoom)

Presented by: Yolanda Finette

Aboriginal children in care thrive when cultural identity is protected, nurtured and lived. Connection to culture strengthens belonging, self-worth, resilience, and long-term social and emotional wellbeing. Carers play a vital role in keeping culture alive in everyday ways, and in actively bringing Cultural Support Plans to life. This session offers practical, culturally grounded guidance to help carers feel confident, respectful and supported in that role.

Participants will:

• Understand why cultural connection is protective and essential for Aboriginal children in care.
• Build confidence in their role as carers to support identity, belonging and cultural pride.
• Learn practical, everyday ways to embed culture in care routines and relationships.
• Explore how to use Cultural Support Plans as living guides, not paperwork.
• Reflect on barriers carers face and identify supports and pathways to strengthen cultural connection.

Yolanda Finette is a proud Yorta Yorta woman and award‑winning holistic life coach, consultant, and wellbeing facilitator. With over 25 years’ experience across child, youth, and family services in both the Naarm Aboriginal community and the United States, she brings a trauma‑informed, anti‑oppression, and culturally grounded approach shaped by her Aboriginal, African American, and Greek heritage.

Named Sacred Leadership Coach of the Decade (2024) and Emerging Coach of the Year (2019), Yolanda’s work has been featured in Good Weekend, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Inspired Coach Magazine. Her Dreaming path is to empower First Nations people to embrace their strengths and step boldly into courageous leadership.

The session is designed for kinship, foster and permanent carers.