Young Australians,
this is your call.

Australia is changing.
Will you help shape what comes next?

Roots Australia brings together First Nations, migrant, and non-Indigenous young Australians to build a future for those who will actually live in it.

Roots Australia is not a course or a lecture, but a shared learning experience where you can explore different perspectives, challenge your assumptions, and build real relationships.

Join Roots Australia 2026

Learn Across Difference

Work alongside people from very different backgrounds and life experiences, learning directly from one another.

Practice Real Dialogue

Learn how to listen deeply, think clearly, and lead conversations that matter.

Discover Your Role

Explore purpose, responsibility, and community in a changing Australia.

You won't sit back and observe. You'll create, collaborate, and grow.

April 17–19 & April 24–26 · Paddington, Sydney NSW · $200 Refundable Deposit

The $200 is returned in full when you complete the program. It's a commitment fee, not a payment.

About Us

Roots Australia is led by people who believe deeply in the power of genuine conversation and in the next generation of Australians. Here are some of our bios, but we're a quickly growing team of 8 facilitators.

Portrait of Lucy Murphy

Lucy Murphy

Organisational Development & Facilitation

Lucy has more than 25 years' experience working across aged care, disability, and community services. Growing up in the country shaped her commitment to strengthening communities and improving the systems that support people's health and wellbeing. Her work focuses on helping groups think and work well together, designing inclusive processes, supporting shared leadership, and using collaborative methods that enable people to listen, learn, and contribute meaningfully.

Portrait of Dr Kenwyn Smith

Dr Kenwyn Smith

Professor of Organizational Behavior, University of Pennsylvania

Dr Kenwyn Smith has spent decades working with communities and organisations around the world helping them navigate difference, conflict, and change. A professor at the University of Pennsylvania, his work focuses on how groups learn, lead, and work through difficult conversations. At Roots Australia, Kenwyn helps create the conditions for honest dialogue across backgrounds, where listening deeply and learning together can open new possibilities.

Portrait of Himanshu Singh

Himanshu Singh

Strategy & Social Impact

Himanshu Singh grew up in Mauritius as the child of Indian migrants before moving to Australia for his studies. For more than fifteen years he has worked across the not-for-profit and social impact sectors supporting organisations that serve vulnerable communities, including First Nations and community-led groups. At Roots Australia, Himanshu brings the perspective of someone who has lived across cultures and is committed to strengthening understanding between the many communities that shape Australia.

Portrait of Mark Spinks

Mark Spinks

Aboriginal Community Leader & Chairperson, Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Corporation

Mark Spinks is a respected Aboriginal community leader in Sydney and Chairperson of the Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Corporation. He is also the founding member of the Babana Aboriginal Men's Group, which strengthens community through culture, connection, and support for Aboriginal men. At Roots Australia, Mark brings lived experience and community leadership to help ground conversations in respect, relationship, and real community insight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly happens at each session?

Each session is a structured experience, part facilitated conversation, part collaborative activity, part reflection. You'll work in small groups with people from different backgrounds, guided by experienced facilitators.

Do I need to attend every session?

Yes. The program is designed as a complete experience and each session builds on the last. Attendance at all sessions across both weekends is a condition of participation, and of receiving your $200 deposit back.

Is there a cost beyond the $200 deposit?

No. The program itself is free. You're responsible for your own travel to and from the venue in Paddington and your meals during, before, and after program hours. Do we have a refrigerator and a microwave? Yes. Yes we do. Plenty of cafes outside too.

How are participants selected?

We read every application carefully and look for curiosity, honesty, and genuine willingness to engage across difference. We also aim to build a cohort that is diverse across First Nations, Migrant, and Non-Indigenous backgrounds, as well as profession, age, and perspective. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a brief video call before final decisions are made.

What do "First Nations", "Migrant", and "Non-Indigenous" mean for this program?

These are the three broad backgrounds we're intentionally bringing together. You don't need to fit neatly into one category, and we won't ask you to prove anything. When you apply, simply tell us your story, where you come from and how you see yourself. That's enough.

Is this political, partisan, or religious?

No. Roots Australia is fully independent, non-partisan, and not at all religiously affiliated. We don't represent any political party, ideology, or advocacy position. We believe that people across the political and cultural spectrum can build genuine understanding when they meet as people first, and that's exactly what we're here to create.

Who are the facilitators?

Our facilitators are experienced practitioners in dialogue, cross-cultural engagement, and community leadership.

What if I have to withdraw? Do I lose my deposit?

If you need to withdraw before the program begins, we'll work with you on a case-by-case basis. If you begin the program but are unable to complete it due to genuine circumstances outside your control, please contact us. The deposit is designed to ensure commitment, not to penalise people for life happening.

How and when do I pay the $200, and when is it returned?

Payment details will be given when you receive your formal offer of acceptance. The deposit is returned to you in full at the end of the final session.

What should I do if I can't pay the deposit?

Just tell us. We'll sort it out with you. Don't let the payment stop you from applying. It's just a way for us to ensure that you're attending, because your seat could go to someone else, and if we don't take a commitment fee we simply don't know who is committed.

What's the video call for, and how long does it take?

It's a short informal conversation, usually 15 to 20 minutes, so we can get to know you a little better and answer any questions you have about the program. It's not an interview in the traditional sense. There are no right or wrong answers.

When will I hear back after applying?

We'll acknowledge your application immediately. If you're shortlisted for a video call, you'll hear from us within 48 hours of submitting to schedule.

Is there an ongoing community after the program?

Yes. In fact you may be invited to participate again. This experience will run quarterly and we seek to build a rich and connected community of participants long term. You might come to this experience alone but you won't leave it without new relationships.

Will you help shape what comes next?

Apply Now

Places are limited.