Marjorie is an Aboriginal woman born and bred in Redfern, her mob is from northern NSW. Over the past 6 years, Marj has worked at the Aboriginal Housing Office in a number of roles including Principle Project Manager, Acting Manager Program Management, Regional Manager Northern Region and most recently Director Sector Investment and Development. Prior to working at the Aboriginal Housing Office, Marj has worked at Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Department of Juvenile Justice and Tourism NSW, The Olympic Coordination Authority and ABC. Marj is passionate about building resilient sustainable communities.
Alan is a proud Murranbulla Marra Yanyuwa descendant from his grandmother’s country near Ngukurr in the N.T. Alan grew up in Darwin and has a background in public health gaining invaluable experience in various roles within the public health system including working in acute mental health, respiratory, renal, as well as rehabilitation and outpatient wards including home visits.
Whilst previously being employed as an Aboriginal liaison officer within a mental health setting, Alan further gained a sound understanding of mental health through a client centered approach, understanding the cycles of psychosis and the benefits that social and emotional wellbeing has on an individual. Alan has knowledge in risk assessment and recognising how to evaluate current social determinants present which he applied during case management.
Through lived experience, Alan understands the different ways trauma can manifest within an individual, family and community and its devastating effect if not addressed and managed effectively with the right services and supports. He has been fortunate to have travelled to most parts of Australia and engaged face to face with communities and services on country, both rural and remote and gained insight into the unique issues and barriers affecting those communities.
Within his role, he has a strong community and stakeholder engagement focus and advocating for change within the crisis support and social emotional wellbeing sector. Alan encourages all organisations who invite change, have strong service delivery who are focused on empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders closing the gap and a suicide free nation for the present and future to reach out to 13YARN and let’s have a yarn.
Nicole is a First Nations woman with more than a decade of experience working in a range of management roles predominately across the community services sector, particularly in the mental health/psychosocial area. Nicole has worked at My Plan Manager, a service that assists clients to manage their NDIS plans. Nicole was the Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager for NSW and the ACT. Outside of work, Nicole is a volunteer with the SES.
Dallas has worked in Aboriginal Affairs most of his working life most recently with the Aboriginal Housing Office in NSW. He has worked with Aboriginal Community Housing Organisations to raise their sustainability to gain and keep National Registration through a contractual and Housing Provider Framework Process. Dallas has also successfully managed the three Regions within the AHO which gives makes him highly visible throughout NSW. Dallas is very well respected in community by both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. When he is not working hard he is a popular DJ.
We are very excited about Jia joining the 13YARN communications team as the Digital Media Coordinator to support and tend to all the 13YARN social media and digital platforms for the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander line.
Jia is a Gamilaroi man from Gunnedah NSW who has experience working on several first nations communications and community engagement projects providing cultural awareness within Accor. He also has experience working on several other community programs in a communications capacity that have provided services to the first nations communities of NSW in the health and arts sector.
Nikita is an Biripi/Bundjalung woman born and bred in Western Sydney, daughter of a Kinchela Boys Home Stolen Generation survivor and all round powerhouse in all that she applies herself to. She is a communications specialist, project manager and events planner who is also skilled at planning, executing, and optimising online marketing, projects and event strategies. She promotes services through multiple digital strategies.
Nikita achieves consistent success with excellent planning skills and proactive campaign tracking. She is insight-driven and adaptable to changing market conditions. Nikita is an accomplished woman having been an Inaugural NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year nominee, Graphic Designer and events manager offering 15 years of experience working with 100+ clients on projects and programs at a local, regional, and national level within Australia. She has always demonstrated success in project management, team leadership, schedule coordination, strategic insight and planning.
Kelly is a proud Gamilaroi women; a qualified and experienced Aboriginal project manager with a strong background in delivering cultural infrastructure projects and programs. Her passion for working with13YARN stems from her belief in their vision of providing a confidential and culturally safe space for our mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. This is a vital service for our mob and its run by our mob.
In previous roles within the Aboriginal housing sector, Kelly was responsible for coordinating and managing projects with a proven track record of establishing and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies, media outlets, community organizations, and volunteers. My collaborative approach is fundamental to my work ethic and success.
Kelly has exceptional conceptual skills which complement her proactive approach to problem-solving and innovation. She is adept at forging new relationships with diverse stakeholders and developing creative solutions to complex issues. Kelly’s strategic and logistical thinking focuses on achieving sustainable social and economic outcomes in collaboration with each community.
Kelly is eager to bring my skills and experience to 13YARN to support their goals and objectives. I look forward to contributing to the crucial and impactful work in crisis support and suicide prevention for First Nations Peoples.
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COUNTRY(MOB): Nunukul, Quandamooka
Leilani is already well known within the sector for her work and leadership in Suicide Prevention and Mental Health she is a powerful advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led, culturally informed practices within mainstream services. This has been built from her own personal lived experience of losing many loved ones to suicide and her own mental ill health. Living with depression, anxiety and suicidality Leilani navigates workplace obligations and her own wellbeing.
Through her leadership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre she will continue to work closely with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to support and empower their voices and participation in key policy reform, program development and advisory roles across both the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention sector.
Rachel is a proud descendant of the Yuin Nation and is the Chief Executive Officer of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia, being a part of the organisation since its commencement. Driven by lived experience of systemic neglect as a child carer, Rachel aspires to contribute to creating systemic change to the mental health system, especially for children and caring arrangements to achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health and suicide prevention outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Rachel has over a decade of experience in the health sector including the optometry industry and community-controlled sector at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and senior roles at Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Social Policy) and Masters of Business Management from the University of Wollongong.
Rachel was recognised by Lifeline Canberra as the 2022 Rising Woman of Spirit for her outstanding community spirit and resilience in the face of adversity, through continuing to push for reforms to ensure other children do not experience the same systemic neglect.
Rachel is a board member of Fearless Women and an Independent Member of Capital Health Network’s Audit and Risk Committee.
COUNTRY(MOB): Wathaurong/Gunditjmara
Tania is Managing Director and Founder of Tiimanno Consultants. Tania is a proud Wathaurong/Gunditjmara woman who is based in Geelong.
Tania is a registered psychologist and has been Chairperson of the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association since 2013.
Tania is also a Director of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health (NATSIMHL) group and a member of the AHPRA Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Health Strategy Group.
COUNTRY(MOB): Bardi people in Western Australia
Pat Dudgeon is a psychologist and professor at the Poche Centre for Aboriginal Health and the School of Indigenous Studies at UWA. Her area of research includes Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention.
She is the director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention at UWA. She is also the lead chief investigator of a national research project, Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing that aims to develop approaches to Indigenous mental health services that promote cultural values and strengths as well as empowering users. She has many publications in Indigenous mental health, in particular, the Working Together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principals and Practice 2014.
13YARN and Lifeline Australia acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of this nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
13YARN Photography by Wayne Quillam 2022, Australia
