I'm Paul Vandenbergh
Paul Vandenbergh
Bringing Australians closer to First Cultures
Paul Vandenbergh is part of the Wirangu and Kokatha peoples of the Far West Coast of South Australia. His upbringing on the Far West Coast was one of the driving forces behind his passion for making change and creating opportunities for Aboriginal young people.
Paul is an experienced and influential cultural educator who promotes, educates and instils strength in identity, pride in language and country, and works to achieve health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people.
Paul played professional basketball for the Canberra Cannons in the National Basketball League (NBL).
He has gone on to forge an acclaimed career in the Australian Football industry as the Director of Aboriginal Programs at the Port Adelaide Football Club and now as National Diversity Talent Manager with the AFL.
Paul co-foundered and is a director of the Tjindu Foundation.
He also started and directs fully indigenous-owned and operated businesses Wanna Mar tuna fishing, and Munda Wines.
As a high-profile Aboriginal leader working across Australia, Paul works to connect and educate non-Aboriginal people with the history, culture and historic and contemporary challenges and opportunities lived by Aboriginal peoples.
In doing so, Paul is part of a growing movement within First Nations and non-indigenous Australia to create meaningful and positive reconciliation outcomea through cultural knowledge education, training and capacity-building within organisations.
"I want to build better relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people."
Paul's Expertise
As one of Australia’s leading cultural consultants, Paul Vandenbergh provides a range of services to government, corporate, community and not-for-profit organisations.
Paul’s clients include those in the government, resources, construction, energy, water, sports, community and recreation, financial and professional sectors.
Paul’s current positions include:
- Founder and director, Tjindu Foundation
- Co-chair, Reconciliation Action Plan committee, Basketball Australia.
Paul’s previous positions include:
- Member, Aboriginal Advisory Council, South Australian Government
- Member, Community Engagement Board, South Australian Government
- Ambassador, ‘Give Up Smokes For Good’, Drug and Alcohol Services, SA Government
- Board member, Jobs Australia Foundation
- Reconciliation
- Community Engagement
- Youth Programs
- Cultural Awareness
Vandenbergh reshaping his Port legacy with new Aboriginal youth foundation
InDaily, Adelaide, Feb 9, 2021,
Paul Vandenbergh appointed Diversity Talent Manager
AFL.com.au, Melbourne, Feb 4, 2021,
Joint venture a first for Aboriginal participation in SA tuna industry
The Lead South Australia, August 6, 2020
"Look after Country and Country will look after you."
Together We Can Climate Action Movement, Melbourne
Clients
