Appendix 3

Yarning Circles are guided by a set of cultural protocols (listed below) and involve the use of a talking stick as a way to embed and empower cultural practices and ways of doing business as the ‘voice of the River’.

• The seating arrangement for the Yarning Circle must be circular.
• The Birrarung must be present in the room (virtual or physical).
• Artefacts or materials that represent the spirit of the Birrarung must be present in the room (Birrarung water, Manna gum leaves, images, River stones, etc.).
• The Elders are to sit either side of the Chair.
• The Chair opens the Yarning Circle and invites the Elders to provide a short Welcome to our guests and share an opening Elders statement.
• A talking stick is to be used to provide cultural principles to the discussion ensure a single speaker at any given time.
• The cultural significance of the talking stick will be explained by an Elder to all participants.
• The talking stick will enable the participant holding the talking stick to speak freely and finish their thoughts in full without interruption.
• The Chair invites each participant to introduce themselves in a clockwise direction using the talking stick. The Chair then sets the scene for the Yarning Circle: why we are here.
• Only the person holding the talking stick may speak. Everyone else must listen.
• The Chair will introduce each topic before asking the Elders to comment first.
• The guests will be given first opportunity to respond before all other participants are invited to speak upon request of the talking stick.
• The Yarning Vircles will run for up to 1 hour and be recorded for Birrarung Council purposes only and not be attributed publicly to any individual, group, or organisation without permission. Recordings will not be permanently kept.

Previous Yarning Circle dates

Page last updated: 20/11/25