Shara Clarke Culture and Education Centre LIMITED

The Shara Clarke Culture and Education Centre will be Aboriginal-led and create an alternative to incarceration through the means of cultural, music, and live skills education programs.

To adapt the Shara Clarke vision to the south-west Victorian context, we must consider:

• Local Leadership: Ensure each community (Warrnambool, Framlingham, Portland, Hamilton, Colac, Geelong, Ballarat) has a locally recognised Elder or Respected Person involved. Cultural authority must originate from within that community.
• Tailored Cultural Content: Collaborate with groups like Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Gunditjmara Elders Council, and local cooperatives (e.g., Warrnambool Aboriginal Co-operative, Winda-Mara, etc.) to develop programs that reflect local songlines, Dreaming stories, totems, and protocols.
• Place-Based Healing: Frame the process around on-country healing opportunities that are meaningful in that local landscape, such as guided reflection or service on culturally significant sites like Budj Bim or Framlingham.
• Flexible Transport and Accessibility: Many participants may live remotely or have limited access to transport. As a result, a bus service will be provided that is culturally safe and accessible in all regions.

You can read our full executive summary here, and our Restorative Justice brief here.

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