Indigenous Conference Services is 100% Indigenous-owned and operated. ICS conferences and events are developed in a
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Culturally-appropriate manner
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In-line with community controlled beliefs, values and cultural protocols
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Cost effective for organisations and
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Brings together representatives from Australian governments and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and mainstream health sectors, grassroots communities and Elders
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ICS believes that an holistic approach needs to be taken in all facets of its conference agendas and in developing projects
INDIGENOUS CONFERENCE SERVICES
(ICS-MEES Pty Ltd)
The IMPOSSIBLE IS JUST THE NEXT STEP FOR US IN OUR JOURNEY
INDIGENOUS CONFERENCES 100% Proudly presented, formulated, designed and organised By First Nations Peoples
Pamela A Trotman, Author
Director, Pamela Trotman Counselling & Consulting Pty Ltd
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Dip. Ed.
Pamela is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, now in her 54th year of practice. Much of that time has been working directly & indirectly with Aboriginal clients, communities, and organisations. She is also a survivor of multiple traumas beginning with child sexual abuse between the ages of five and seven. Her healing journey began in her mid-teens when she decided she wanted to find a way of living and being which was different to her mother’s emotional, spiritual, and verbal violence. Her exposure to trauma in her personal life, and her work with other trauma survivors, culminated in the writing of the book Triumphing Over Trauma – Journeys Beyond Woundedness (2020). The book names and describes seven different forms of emotional/spiritual wounding which often impede a person’s capacity to heal and recover from trauma. Pamela’s contribution to the social work profession around Reconciliation has been recognised in the awarding of the NT Mary Moylan Social Worker of the Year Award (2010) and life membership of the AASW. She is a published author in Reconciliation and Strengths-Based practice. Pamela is committed to acknowledging and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of Being, Knowing and Doing.
Pamela A Trotman, Author
Nepean Centre for Oral Health
University of Sydney NSW
Dr Neeraj Vyas completed his undergraduate dentistry training at Griffith University where he was involved in various oral health initiatives and rural high school visits in southeast Queensland and the Northern Territory. He has since worked primarily in the public sector in New South Wales at the Sydney Dental Hospital, Westmead Centre for Oral Health and in the Awabakal Medical Service. Currently, Neeraj is a registrar at Nepean Hospital completing specialty training in Oral Surgery and has a strong interest in playing a role in Closing the Gap in Indigenous Australian Health
Joanne O'Malley
Manager Strategic Projects
TAFE NSW
Jo is the Manager Strategic Projects with TAFE Digital. She manages a number of projects, including the EarTrain contract, a national program, delivered by TAFE Digital, funded by Department of Health and supported by Hearing Australia. A collaborative project, with stakeholders representing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health organisations, Primary Health Networks, and community organisations. The program was launched to support ‘closing the gap’ by providing better access to health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Jo started working with TAFE NSW in 1997, and left in 2018 for 3 years to work with a non-for profit charity supporting health initiatives in rural, remote and Aboriginal communities in NSW. She returned to TAFE NSW in 2021, and commenced managing the EarTrain project in February 2022.
Dr Joseph S Fleming
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Casual Academic, NIKERI Institute
Joseph is a qualified registered mental health social worker, counsellor/therapist and experienced group facilitator with over 25 years’ experience in both government and non-government organisations. As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) Joseph is a recognised provider with Medicare Australia and other programs (NDIS), delivering clinical social work services in mental health settings and utilising a range of evidence-based strategies. Joseph also has a particular interest in men’s health and cultural practice. Joseph is currently working in private practice delivering clinical social work services and supervision in mental health settings and using a range of evidence-based strategies as well as working as a Casual Academic with the National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation (NIKERI) Institute (Deakin University).
Catherine Turner
Indigenous Liaison Manager
Senior Research Coordinator
Can-SOLVE CKD Network CANAD
Catherine Turner is a Métis woman whose family originates from the historic Red River Settlement in Manitoba, Canada. She is the Indigenous Liaison Manager of the Can-SOLVE CKD. She supports the work of project leads to explore how best to enable culturally safe and relevant Indigenous patient and Knowledge Keeper engagement in each of the network’s research projects. In addition, Catherine coordinates one of nine research projects in BC, in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority and sixteen participating First Nations communities. The project, BC KidneyCheck is a point of care kidney screening program with an emphasis on wellness and self-determination. Catherine is the past Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association and was a member of their executive board for ten years. Catherine has worked in health promotion and primary prevention programs with Indigenous and First Nations communities for the past three decades, including administering a federally funded Aboriginal diabetes initiative for eight years. Catherine is a lifelong learner, having completed an undergraduate degree in Professional Communication, a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Public Health, an Indigenous Coach Training program, and is currently working towards certification in both the International Coaching Federation training and a Trauma Informed Coach training program.
Uncle Ara Harathunian
Managing Director
Kultchafi QLD
Uncle Ara has over 40 years of professional experience in Governance Eldership/Leadership and Management in many fields of endeavour. His interests lie in health, youth, education, Aboriginal Affairs, Mediation, Reconciliation in Action, Restorative Justice, Lateral Violence, Community Development, Workplace Dynamics, Mentoring, Research, Aboriginal Terms of Reference, Aboriginal Spirituality and Indigenous Wellbeing and Wellness Paradigms. He is a Director on several Indigenous and non-Indigenous Boards and Chairperson of Lonweigh Aboriginal Corporation. Uncle Ara has an Armenian Heritage and has Aboriginal family connections to the Minniecon, Lingwoodock and Wenitongs and the Torres Strait through the Ghee’s and Wares and Skin connections to Wongi and Martu People of Western Australia. He has achieved professional success in business, and community development. In his professional career, his achievements include developing and implementing a Transformational Management Model underpinned by the Cultural Philosophical Ethos Theory that was developed by his wife, Aunty Cheri Yingaa Yavu-Kama-Harathunian, and the development of Kultchafi Cultural Responsiveness Training Package, Healing Circle Work, Gentle Footprints and Cultural Responsiveness Organisational Pulse.
Uncle Ara Harathunian
Managing Director
Kultchafi QLD
Uncle Ara has over 40 years of professional experience in Governance Eldership/Leadership and Management in many fields of endeavour. His interests lie in health, youth, education, Aboriginal Affairs, Mediation, Reconciliation in Action, Restorative Justice, Lateral Violence, Community Development, Workplace Dynamics, Mentoring, Research, Aboriginal Terms of Reference, Aboriginal Spirituality and Indigenous Wellbeing and Wellness Paradigms. He is a Director on several Indigenous and non-Indigenous Boards and Chairperson of Lonweigh Aboriginal Corporation. Uncle Ara has an Armenian Heritage and has Aboriginal family connections to the Minniecon, Lingwoodock and Wenitongs and the Torres Strait through the Ghee’s and Wares and Skin connections to Wongi and Martu People of Western Australia. He has achieved professional success in business, and community development. In his professional career, his achievements include developing and implementing a Transformational Management Model underpinned by the Cultural Philosophical Ethos Theory that was developed by his wife, Aunty Cheri Yingaa Yavu-Kama-Harathunian, and the development of Kultchafi Cultural Responsiveness Training Package, Healing Circle Work, Gentle Footprints and Cultural Responsiveness Organisational Pulse.