Empowering First Nations Talent Through Culturally Grounded Sponsorship
Warra is the first program to be delivered by Cultivate Indigenous, and is a majority First Nations owned and operated business.
Warra: Sponsorship That Respects, Elevates, and Connects
Download the Warra Program Overview
What is Warra?
Cultivate is proud to announce the launch of Warra, our new sponsorship program specifically designed and delivered for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in your organisation.
Over the last 12 months, Warra has been carefully developed in partnership with First Nations people, who have combined their technical excellence with their deep understanding and lived experience of being Aboriginal.
What's in a name?
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people are the original inhabitants of Australia and have lived here for over 60,000 years.
At Cultivate, we prefer to use the terms First Nations peoples or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples when referring to the original people of Australia.
The term First Nations, acknowledges and recognises the many different histories, languages, cultural protocols, lore, and customs that uniquely differentiates the many tribal clans within the First Nations of Australia.
Enablers and Barriers
First Nations peoples face a complex mix of social, cultural, geographic, and economic barriers to employment. These include limited regional opportunities, poor management practices, and systems that undervalue First Nations leadership and skills.
Research highlights that informal sponsorship affects pay, retention, and career progression. A senior-led sponsorship program designed for emerging First Nations leaders is key to addressing bias and unlocking advancement.
Why does Warra work?
We are committed to enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to grow, thrive and lead. It’s widely recognised that diversity brings better thinking, richer discussions, and a more inclusive workplace for everyone.
Warra is a sponsorship program targeted at cultivating an environment for emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to shine. Concurrently, Warra builds your business leaders understanding of First Nations culture and investment in your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent pool.
By creating a transparent and more equitable system of sponsorship, Warra boosts your organisation’s ability to utilise your entire talent pool. Warra is designed to complement your organisation’s existing leadership and development initiatives. This program enhances Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander growth and leadership, and cross-cultural capability, in your organisation.
Carlyn Waters
Warra Director
Carlyn is a Kamilaroi woman who has connections to both NSW and Queensland.
Her passion has always been ensuring that there are First Nations people in all levels within her organisation and the public sector. She is known for her ability to identify and grow talented individuals to reach their full potential inside and outside the Australian Public Service.
Carlyn has held senior positions in the Australian Government as well as operated a side hustle as a business consultant. She is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AITSIS) and a director of the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife..
Empowering First Nations Talent Through Culturally Grounded Sponsorship
Download Warra Sponsorships OverviewTop 8 FAQs
Who can participate in Warra?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees seeking leadership growth and the committed leaders ready to act as sponsors.
How are sponsors selected?
Based on alignment to values, influence in the business, and readiness to advocate actively.
Is Warra customisable for our industry?
Yes. It is tailored for private, public, and community sectors while keeping core cultural elements.
Is cultural training provided?
Yes. Sponsors are onboarded with Indigenous-led cultural learning and safety principles.
What’s the program duration?
Typically 6 months. We adapt timelines to meet your organisational needs.
How is this different from mentoring?
Sponsorship involves advocacy and elevation—not just support. It’s strategic, accountable, and action-oriented.
What support is available?
Facilitators provide coaching, check-ins, outcome tracking, and support throughout the journey.
How do we get started?
Book a Sponsorship Mapping Session to define goals, participants, and delivery model.
Get All The Answers You Need
Let’s explore if your people, systems, and sponsors are ready for real internal mobility. Book a sponsorship planning session with a Cultivate Program Lead.
Book Your Sponsorship Planning Call
Let us talk you through the options.
Designing Sponsorship Programs for Cultural Safety
Visibility without safety creates more harm than good Advancing diverse leaders isn’t just about opportunity—it’s about responsibility. Without cultural safety, sponsorship becomes performative. And performance without protection causes damage. Sponsorship isn’t a blanket solution—it’s a culturally aware strategy For First Nations and diverse leaders, trust is earned over time—not assumed
‘I never thought I’d work in academia’: How the support of a sponsor transformed Carlyn Waters’ career
Madeline Hislop, July 29, 2024 As an executive in the government sector, Carlyn Waters was committed to serving the public and never thought she’d work in academia. However, the support of a key sponsor propelled her career forward in a number of ways she couldn’t have predicted. Waters was working in
Diverse leadership teams are more innovative and produce stronger business outcomes, this will enhance your future talent pipeline.
