Panellists for ACLW Leadership Conversation with Aboriginal Women Leaders 29 August 2013
Veronica Bird is a Bundjalung/Butchulla woman from Hervey Bay, Queensland. Veronica has worked in Aboriginal Affairs for 33 years, in particular Aboriginal Land Rights, Aboriginal Health and Community Development. Veronica was a former elected representative and Secretary to the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, and is the former Chairperson of the Yerin Aboriginal Health Services, which Veronica established on the NSWCentralCoast. Currently, Veronica is Shellharbour City Council's Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer and the Chairperson of the Shellharbour Aboriginal Community Youth Association (SAYCA) at Oakleigh Park Hall, Warilla. Veronica initiated Shellharbour City Council's NAIDOC Awards in 2008 and sought the participation of four local councils to hold the Inaugural Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards Dinner in 2011 bringing together 575 people including 100 Elders from the Aboriginal community. This event won the NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network Award Category – Council Partnership. In 2008, Veronica established the annual Reconciliation School Flag Walk which involves Council leaders, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across the Shellharbour LGA to participate. Veronica has established and facilitated in the Regional Local Government Aboriginal Employee Network to provide guidance, support, mentoring and professional development to all Aboriginal employees within Local Government. In 2012 she developed a Local Government Aboriginal Cultural and Heritage Development Assessment Toolkit, aimed to create a uniform method of protecting sites and items of significance amongst the three Illawarra councils. Veronica Bird was the winner of the Minister's Women in Local Government Award in 2012.
Janelle Brown has lived in the Illawarra her whole life. Janelle is a descendant of the Gunai-Kurnai and Yuin people, from the far south coast of NSW. Janelle is the Aboriginal Community Engagement Facilitator at Communities for Children, South Coast Barnados. Among the programs run by Ms Brown are the ‘Walk and Yarn’ group for Aboriginal mothers with young families, and the provision of activities, nutritious meals, transport and support to community members. She has been instrumental in encouraging 130 Aboriginal women to access the Illawarra Women’sHealth Centre and is leading the establishment of an Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Group. In 2012, Janelle was awarded the Regional NAIDOC Aboriginal Worker of the Year Award. Janelle is passionate about moving forward and achieving better health, education and employment opportunities for her people.
Sylvia Campbell is a Gumbangirr woman from Bowraville on the North Coast of NSW. Sylvia has lived in the Illawarra region for over 29 years. She has worked in the areas of health and education for over 15 years. Sylvia is a member of the Stolen Generation and is here to empower women and young people to find pathways to healthier lifestyles that enable positive approaches to decision-making to become independent and less welfare dependent. Sylvia is currently completing a Masters in Indigenous Health at the University of Wollongong. Sylvia's philosophy is: "Come on no more excuses get up and just do it. Time wont stand still and wait, so do something with that time and make change for yourself. Become the role model for the future and be the one who inspires not just your community but the whole world because you're here for a reason. Just find it and skies are the limit. Get excited about who you are and do what you're supposed to do while you're here."
Jodi Edwards is from the Yuin Nation. Growing up on country and having access to the stories and her culture has shaped her future. Jodi has recently completed her Masters in Language Education and started to teach the local Dharawal Language to others. She is an Aboriginal Cultural Education & Language Consultant. Jodi has a long term vision for the leadership and the economic development of her community. Jodi has achieved in many areas such as sport and education and works hard as a positive role model in the Community. Jodi is the Co founder of SACYA and a current committee member. She is also the current chair of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee for Shellharbour City Council, a current member of the Local Aboriginal Lands Council, and a member of the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation. Jodi Edwards is the 2013 recipient of the Naidoc Aboriginal Worker of the Year Award.