Aunty Jeanette Singleton

Traditional elder 

Yirrganydji Gurabana Aboriginal Corporation QLD 

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Aunty Jeanette Singleton is a Yirrganydji woman from Yorkeys Knob and a respected traditional elder of the Yirrganydji people. Aunty Jeanette has been extensively involved as a leader within the indigenous affairs of Far North Queensland and served as chair of the Irukandji Aboriginal Corporation, Yirrganydji Gurabana Aboriginal Corporation as well as Director of Cairns District Regional Housing.

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Aunty Cheri Yavu-Kama- Harathunian

Chaplain,Director & cultural officer

Indigenous Wellbeing Centre QLD

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Aunty Cheri Yavu-Kama-Harathunian holds a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Indigenous and Community Health as well as Certificates in Small Business Development and Minister of Religion. She is a member of State and Local Social Justice Committees related to her portfolios and serves as a Director of several not-for profit Aboriginal organisations. Aunty Cheri along with her husband, Uncle Ara developed and implemented the Transformational Management Model that frames all operations of IWC, a non-profit Aboriginal organization that provides centralised management and administration across 27 programs. In 2013, Aunty Cheri was awarded the International Professional of the Year for Spiritual and Social Services by the World Wide Who’s Who.  In 2016, IWC awarded her the Prestigious Ambassadorial Award for her Professional Leadership Integrity. In her spare time, Aunty Cheri studies ancient Greek and Hebrew languages to better understand sacred writings.  She says her greatest achievement has been to raise her two children to become social and cultural activists for Aboriginal aspirations, who are contributing members to society and the Aboriginal communities, in which they live. 

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Joanne Houghton 

Founder & CEO

Creative Consulting

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Joanne Houghton is a Kukuthaipan, Eastern Yajanji and Ngunkal woman who grew up with family in Cairns, Bessie Point & Yarrabah. Joanne entered into the NDIS market trading as Creative Consulting in early 2019 with a vision of becoming a private Independent Support Coordination to primarily assist Yarrabah residents to access culturally appropriate and competent supports. Since that time, Joanne has taken on two employees and expanded services to cover any region where Creative Consulting is requested by NDIS participants. In this session, Joanne will cover the basics on how she got started and the trials and triumphs of the journey so far.

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Dr. Joseph B. Stone

Clinical psychologist

indigenous development specialist

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Dr. Joseph B. Stone, PhD. Is an Amskapi-pikuni ceremonialist and traditionalist and member of the OKKAN (Sundance), the Last Star Thunder Medicine Pipe and Beaver Lodge.  He is a clinical psychologist and with his partner, Amber Logan, owner of Indigenous Development Specialists of Havelock North, New Zealand.  Dr. Stone works at the Napier Family Centre in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.  He has clinical experience with adult prisoners and corrections and juvenile justice in both New Zealand and USA.  He is affiliated with the National Centre on Trauma and Project Making Medicine – Indian Health Service Assessment and Treatment of Child Abuse at Oklahoma State University. He has presented to and served as consultant to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs of Native Youth Suicide.  Joseph's publications include articles on trauma, suicide, and other cultural / behavioural issues. Joseph B. Stone, PhD. Is an Amskapi-pikuni ceremonialist and traditionalist and member of the OKKAN (Sundance), the Last Star Thunder Medicine Pipe and Beaver Lodge.  He is a clinical psychologist and with his partner, Amber Logan, owner of Indigenous Development Specialists of Havelock North, New Zealand.  Dr. Stone works at the Napier Family Centre in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.  He has clinical experience with adult prisoners and corrections and juvenile justice in both New Zealand and USA.  He is affiliated with the National Centre on Trauma and Project Making Medicine – Indian Health Service Assessment and Treatment of Child Abuse at Oklahoma State University. He has presented to and served as consultant to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs of Native Youth Suicide.  Joseph's publications include articles on trauma, suicide, and other cultural / behavioural issues. 

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Kathryn Martin 

Occupational Therapist

LifeTec Australia

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Kathryn Martin is an Aboriginal Occupational Therapist who works at LifeTec Australia.  She enjoys working collaboratively with clients and their families to find the right assistive technology and complex home modification solutions. Prior to working at LifeTec, Kathryn worked for 4 years with people who have experienced vision loss. Kathryn graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from University of Queensland in 2013 and more recently has completed Advanced Home Modification training. Kathryn is a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Occupational Therapy Network (ATSIOTN) has a passion for improving access to equipment and home modification services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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aunty geraldine atkinson

president

victorian aboriginal education association inc

 

Aunty Geraldine Atkinson is a Bangerang/Wiradjuri woman who has devoted her career to expanding the possibilities available to Koorie people through education. For over 40 years, Aunty Geraldine has been a significant presence in the Koorie and wider Victorian community. Geraldine’s career in education began when she took up the position of Teacher’s Aide in 1976. Since then Geraldine has gained experience across all sectors of education, leading to her current role as President of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI), a position she has held since 1999. As a community leader Geraldine has worked hard to ensure that real progress is made for Koorie people. Geraldine has made a substantial impact in the area of early childhood, and has always regarded education as being the best instrument of progress for Koorie people. Geraldine represents VAEAI at local, state and national level, providing her expertise in early childhood to numerous committees including: the Premier’s Advisory Council Childcare (under Premier Steve Bracks, from 2003-04); National Childcare Accreditation Council 2005-2011; National Children’s Services Forum (Early Childhood Australia); and the Early Childhood Australia Reconciliation Committee. Geraldine is also the Deputy Chair of the Secretariat National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) and the Chair of Lulla’s Children and Family Centre in Shepparton. In her roles in early childhood, Geraldine has continued to assert VAEAI’s position that child care and kindergarten for Koorie children should be culturally appropriate, and welcoming of and accessible to Koorie families in order to boost participation and support the successful transition of Koorie children into school. Most recently, Geraldine was inducted into the 2018 Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll as recognition for all her work and the important contributions she has made to Indigenous education.

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olwen Forker

peadiatric speech pathologist & director

backchat speech pathology

 

Olwen Forker is a mum to 3 busy boys and paediatric speech pathologist. She is the director of BackChat Speech Pathology and her clinical area of specialty privately is working with children with complex developmental conditions (Executive Function issues; ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, FASD) that struggle with language-Reading acquisition. In this area her particular interest is in Reading disorders. Olwen also works extensively with children from disadvantaged backgrounds, including children in care. She runs a clinic west of Brisbane in one of Australia’s most disadvantaged areas. Olwen works with many wonderful Indigenous families in this clinic where she applies her clinic’s mantra of access, opportunity and repetition so every child can receive a high quality service aimed at improving language but most significantly their Reading level. Olwen is a well-known advocate in the education and SLP field for highlighting the increasing disadvantage in Australia. 

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Janette Young

Strategic Communications Manager 

Indigenous Wellbeing Centre 

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Ms. Janette Young is a strategic communicator who has worked with major companies and not-for-profit organisations for more than 30 years. She specialises in behavioural communications and community engagement. Janette is Strategic Communications Manager with IWC, an Aboriginal community-controlled health and wellbeing organisation that works across one of the most disadvantaged areas in Australia. Janette takes a lead role in facilitating grassroots solutions to social issues through community leadership and delivered the 2016 Bundaberg Region Community Ice Forum.

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Ara Julga Harathunian

CEO and a Board Director

Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC)

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Ara Julga Harathunian is CEO and a Board Director of the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) Ltd. IWC is Aboriginal Community Controlled and is committed to Reconciliation in Action within all of its operations. It offers medical and health, family and community, and cultural services.Ara Julga Harathunian is CEO and a Board Director of the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) Ltd. IWC is Aboriginal Community Controlled and is committed to Reconciliation in Action within all of its operations. It offers medical and health, family and community, and cultural services.

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Jean Paul

Traditional Australian Aboriginal woman of the Quandamooka clan

IWC NDIS Local Area Coordination team

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Jean Paul is a Traditional Australian Aboriginal woman of the Quandamooka clan, near North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Bay, and Bundjalung peoples from southern Qld/NSW region. Now working within the IWC NDIS Local Area Coordination team in Bundaberg, Jean’s family has been involved with IWC in one form or another for many years, and seen it develop from a small Aboriginal Community-controlled organisation to the community leader it is today.

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Leanne Connors

Corporate Manager

Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC)

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Leanne Connors is Corporate Manager of the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) Ltd, and has been part of its Reconciliation in Action journey for a decade. Leanne works across the 27 programs and services provided by IWC into our communities, and presents on topics of social importance at major conferences.

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Daniel Smith

Aboriginal Australian of the Kalkatungu tribe

IWC NDIS Local Area Coordination team

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Daniel Smith is an Aboriginal Australian of the Kalkatungu tribe from Mt Isa. He grew up in Bundaberg, and now works within the IWC NDIS Local Area Coordination team. Daniel has worked in the area of disability in terms of health and employment services for about 15 years.

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Stirling Eggmolesse

Director of and Cultural Advisor

Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC)

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Stirling Eggmolesse an Aboriginal man of the Gurang and Kabi Kabi peoples, and a Director of and Cultural Advisor to Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) Ltd. He has worked in the areas of youth support, cultural healing and community linkages for more than a decade.Stirling Eggmolesse an Aboriginal man of the Gurang and Kabi Kabi peoples, and a Director of and Cultural Advisor to Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) Ltd. He has worked in the areas of youth support, cultural healing and community linkages for more than a decade.

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Ryan Mulvany

Area Manager

IWC NDIS team

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Ryan Mulvany is the Area Manager of the IWC NDIS team, leading a dynamic team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous to deliver a smooth and effective Local Area Coordination rollout of the NDIS across the region of Bundaberg in Central Queensland. IWC is the only Aboriginal community-controlled organisation in Australia to hold an NDIA Local Area Coordination contract.Ryan Mulvany is the Area Manager of the IWC NDIS team, leading a dynamic team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous to deliver a smooth and effective Local Area Coordination rollout of the NDIS across the region of Bundaberg in Central Queensland. IWC is the only Aboriginal community-controlled organisation in Australia to hold an NDIA Local Area Coordination contract.

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Courtney Wolf

NDIS Appeals Advocate

QAI (Queensland Advocacy Incorporated)

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Courtney has also been working as a NDIS Appeals Advocate for the past 18 months, starting with QAI at the beginning of the year. Her background is in disability and early intervention for children with disabilities. Her focus is on ensuring people have adequate supports to live their best life possible. She very experienced in resolving matters at the AAT and works to resolve the matters as quickly as possible.

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Byron Albury

QAI’s president

Queensland Advocacy’s Board

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Byron is an Aboriginal man who has lived in many places throughout Queensland, due his family’s travelling for seasonal work. He is one of 7 and has been on Queensland Advocacy’s Board since 2004. He is currently QAI’s president and is a strong advocate for people with disability, especially in the Aboriginal community. He brings skills, passion, knowledge and experience to this roll, especially with his Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Sociology and Indigenous studies.

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TO BE CONTINUED......

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