Yarnin’ Money with the latest Qld Police Recruits
Peter Ingrim, Protective Services Training QLD Coordinator for the Queensland Police Service (QPS), recently approached ICAN to run Yarnin’ Money with the Mob training for six new Protective Services Officer recruits from Palm Island. The intake of these six local recruits at a special ceremony on Palm Island is a Queensland first.
The training was held at the QPS Recruitment Centre in Townsville on the 2nd and 3rd of September, with the recruits travelling from Palm Island to attend the workshop.
ICAN’s Yarnin’ Money Financial Literacy program is specifically designed for service providers and residents in remote Indigenous communities. It aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make informed financial and consumer choices.
Traditional Storytelling
Carmen Hegarty, ICAN Yarnin’ Money Facilitator, explains, “The uniqueness of Yarnin’ Money training is that it uses the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander way of addressing their money issues without being intrusive. It’s about taking people on a journey and having a yarn – storytelling – which is our traditional way of learning. By using the Yarnin’ Money Wheel tool, photo narrative, and timeline exercises, we provide a culturally-safe environment to discuss financial and consumer issues openly. What makes it special for me is that as a facilitator, sharing my own story with participants is a powerful way for us to relate to each other and make a strong connection.”
ICAN Operations Manager, Jillian Williams, said “This program gives people the opportunity to think about their relationship with money and the different ways that relationship has been shaped, not only by their individual circumstances, but also by historic and present day injustices, policies, and costs of living, which are outside their control. Critically, Yarnin’ Money helps people to see their strengths and resilience within all of this and provides the tools and guidance necessary to assist them in taking control of their money. All of this is done through a framework that recognizes and places culture at the heart of the conversations.”
“It was great to meet the Yarnin’ Money team and to observe significant elements of the Yarnin’ Money program”, said Peter Ingrim from QPS. “I had a yarn with our recruits a few days after the training, and they all really enjoyed it and the style in which it was delivered, so a big tick of approval there because that can make or break a program. The group got paid today, so we had a chat about how they put some of the strategies they learnt in place, right from the very beginning.”
Sharing Knowledge, Changing Lives
Carmen said, “being a part of this Yarnin’ Money journey for some time now has made me more aware of how this workshop can and does change lives for the better, mine included. Watching and receiving feedback from the participants really gives me so much joy. To see them add the tools to their everyday lives and share their learnings with their families is so rewarding. It has a ripple effect – share it with one or more people, and they share it with others.”
Carmen said, “being a part of this Yarnin’ Money journey for some time now has made me more aware of how this workshop can and does change lives for the better, mine included. Watching and receiving feedback from the participants really gives me so much joy. To see them add the tools to their everyday lives and share their learnings with their families is so rewarding. It has a ripple effect – share it with one or more people, and they share it with others.”
“The Yarnin’ Money workshops help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders build a better future for themselves, their families, and the generations to come.”
You can read more about the unique QPS initiative on Palm Island here.