top of page

Malu Mai Wellness Consultancy Pty. Ltd

Proudly presents

the

2018 World First Nations

Traditional Knowledge Conference

(Say it Loud, Say it Clear,

We were Always Here!!)

22, 23, 24 August, 2018

Venue: Four Winds Cultural Centre / Kupidabin Wilderness

6 Lyell Court

Mount Samson, Queensland

*** Please bear with us, this page is being updated as we receive information from our Special Guest Speakers, thank you!

WORLD FIRST NATIONS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

CONFERENCE THEMES

The World First Nations Traditional Knowledge Conference is centred on these key

themes as outlined;

1. LORE: Traditional Lore and Customary Practices; this session will include dialogue around the importance of maintaining our Lores and Customary Practices for the betterment of our First Nations Communities here and around the World.

2. KNOWLEDGE: First Nations Knowledge and Ways of Being; this session will involve the collective sharing of First Nations Knowledge and Ways of Being, our epistemology, how do we know what we know? It will incorporate the wisdom handed down from our Ancestors.

3. CULTURE: Making meaning of our Cultural Stories, Songs, Languages and Dances; this session will explore our cultural stories, songs shared through language and dance.

4. MEDICINE: Traditional Medicines & Ways of Healing; this session will explore Traditional ways of Healing and through ancient Knowledge & Wisdom from our Elders and Ancestors.

5. SPIRIT: Wellness Pathways for our Spiritual, Social, Emotional & Psychological Health and Wellbeing; this session will encompass the core components for health and wellness utilising Traditional Knowledge Systems.

6. LAW: Cultural Ways of Knowing & Cultural Ways of Doing in Law & Justice; discussions and dialogue in this session will examine core components of Traditional Knowledge & Traditional Ways of Doing to address issues surrounding Law and Justice.

CONFERENCE VENUE:

FOUR WINDS CULTURAL CENTRE

KUPIDABIN WILDERNESS

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Cost: $450... (Full Price)

Early Bird: $350... ( Early Bird Registration and payment must be received by 23rd July, 2019)

(Dinner & Entertainment complimentary for Conference delegates paying for 3 days conference only)

Conference Dinner & Entertainment: $80 per person

(Please note: This price is only for those wishing to attend the dinner and entertainment only)

ALL WELCOME!

Who should attend:

Scholars, Educators, Researchers, Elders, Community Members, Counsellors, Social Scientists, Cross-Cultural Educators, Social Workers, Community Development Workers, Human Service Workers, Health Workers, Traditional Healers, Holistic Practitioners and Natural Therapists

Registration will be accepted and confirmed upon Payment via Bank Transfer to: 

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Account Name: MALU MAI WELLNESS CONSULTANCY PTY LTD

BSB: 064-138

ACCOUNT NO: 1063 2400

FOR CREDIT CARD PAYMENT VIA PAYPAL ~~~ PAY HERE

Please click on the 'Buy Now' button below for Full Conference Registration & Payment

Please click here for 2 DAYS attendance Registration Payment

Please click here for 1 DAY attendance Registration Payment

For those attending the Conference Dinner ONLY ~ Please click here

Students Fee click here - (Note: Students must provide their Student ID via email to

malumaiconsultancy@gmail.com

Elders & Conference Presenters Fee click here

OUR DEADLY PERFORMERS

Malu Mai Wellness Consultancy is Proud to Introduce ‘Inky’ Jon Vea Vea who will be performing at the 2018 World First Nations Traditional Knowledge Conference;

Jon is a descendant of the Cobble Cobble Clan on his Grandfather’s side.His traditional lands stretch across the vast south east basinaround the Dalby, Warra, Jimbour, Chinchilla areaof the Darling Downs in Queensland Australia.

“Music From My Soul” is raw, passionate, and emotive.

The lyrics were inspired by real experiences in Jon’s life.

He invites you to enter into a heart-felt conversation

about the universal pain and life challenges we all face.

Please click on the link below to learn more about this Deadly Fulla :-D

For further information about the artist:

Website Link for Jon Vea Vea - Singer/Songwriter/Musician

http://www.jonveavea.com.au

Read a summary of his cultural and musical background on his “BIO” page

Facebook Link for Jon Vea Vea & The Acoustic Jabiru

https://www.facebook.com/pg/MusicianJonVeaVea/videos

Watch featured video to view “MUSIC FROM MY SOUL premiere 2017 (extracts)”

Malu Mai Wellness Consultancy is proud to present Mr Getano Bann, who has performed at the World First Nations Traditional Knowledge Conference for the past three years and again at this year's conference.

Special Guest Presenters

Special Guest Speaker, Reverend Alexandra Gater (Aunty Alex), Brisbane Elder | Founder Aboriginal Walkabout Ministry

Biography: Aunty Alex is a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she is a Wangan Jagalingou woman from the Alpha Clermont Area in Central Queensland and the Koa Clan from Winton from her Mother and her Mother’s father’s country is Kukkaimiji from Edward River, North Queensland. Aunty Alex’s grandfather on her father’s side was from Ireland and Scotland. She was born in Brisbane and raised in Cherbourg. Aunty Alex has 9 Children, 33 Grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and two on the way. 

In 2005 she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work in human rights advocacy for her people in the prison system and in the grassroots Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. She is one of six women from Australia nominated from 1,000 women worldwide nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Aunty Alex was also nominated for the Australian of the Year Award in 2005 and received the South East Queensland NAIDOC Distinguished Services Award also in 2005. In 1997, Aunty Alex was ordained as a Deacon, and then she was ordained as a Priest in 2003 and became the first Aboriginal Woman in Queensland to be ordained as a Priest in the Anglican Church. Aunty Alex received distinguished Community Awards for her tireless grassroots work in the community, one of these awards came from the Department of Corrective Services.

She currently works on a local, National and International level as an advocate for social justice and human rights. For 23 years Aunty Alex has been working as a Chaplain in the Prisons around Brisbane, offering spiritual and cultural support to men and women in custody. Aunty Alex has supported many women, whose lives have been changed for the better. Many of these women suffer great disadvantage with problems such as domestic violence, poverty, desertion, and single parenting. She has also supported those mothers who have had their children removed from them by the Department of Child Safety. Her work with women spearheaded the establishment of her organisation called ‘Aboriginal Women for Change’, empowering women to take up the challenge, to take ownership of their lives, show leadership in gaining recognition, respect and equality for all women.

Special Guest Speaker, Gayle Munn: Community Elder, Board of Director, Gallang Place, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Counselling Services.

Biography: Gayle is a Gunggari Woman from South West Queensland. She lives in the Ipswich and is a respected member of that Community. Gayle is a former member of the Ipswich Justice Group and a previous sitting member of Murri Court in Ipswich. She has previously worked in a variety of sectors including Commission for Children, Young People and Child Guardian, The Department of Corrective Services, Health Education and Training at QATSICHET, Stepping Stones, Vocational Education Program.

Gayle’s primary interest for the last ten years has been healing the wounds of lateral violence. She is one of the four founding members of the Lateral Peace Project and has presented at State, National and International Conferences and Forums. In 2011-12 Gayle completed training as a Peace Ambassador. She holds qualifications and is experienced in Counselling, Hakomi Method, Mindfulness and Social and Emotional Healing, Mental Health, Training and Assessment, Life Coaching - Emotional Intelligence, Spiritual Intelligence and Radical Forgiveness.

Special Guest Presenter: Iris Silva Brito, Lecturer, Australian College of Applied Psychology, School of Social Work

Biography: Hi, I am Iris Silva Brito. I was born in Brazil. I have a native African and Portuguese heritage. My native African relatives lived the horrors of colonization and the slavery period in Brazil in the late 19th Century. In fact, my grandmother from my father’s side was born in a slave compound, and my father worked as a slave in the early 20th century.

I am the eldest daughter of a family of 6 children. I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I grew up in Bahia- Brazil. Now, I am an Australian citizen and very happy living in this magnificent land.

I have a great interest in education, social policy, community work, public administration, and sciences. I have worked in the public, private and non-government sectors as a Social Worker.

Over the last two years, I have been involved in the education of the next generation of social workers with Noritta Morseu-Diop at the Australia College of Applied Psychology- Discipline of Social Work. My search for and appreciation of knowledge comes from my parents who have dedicated their lives to the education of children living in economic poverty in the northeast of Brazil.

I am currently part of the board of governance of two inspiring organizations - Live and Learn Environmental Education and ATEC. These organizations draw my passion for working towards sustainability, social justice and human rights around the world.

I will see you at the conference. Then, I will share with you a little more of my life story. See you there.

Special Guest Speaker: Issac Akande | PhD Student University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA.

Biography: Issac is of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, United States of America. Issac Akande of Wichita, Kansas is currently a PhD student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership. He earned his Bachelor Degree from the University of Kansas studying political science and history, and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Oregon. Prior to his arrival at the University of Illinois he taught high school social studies for three years in the state of Kansas including a stint working amongst the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas. His research interests include American Indian and indigenous Studies with an emphasis on the histories of American Indian education after European contact.

As a First Nations American, he will share the stories of his People and bring their voices to the forefront.

Special Guest Speaker: Mrs Noeleen Lopes | CEO Gallang Place, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders Counselling Services, Brisbane

Biography: Noeleen is a Ghungalu woman, born and raised in Brisbane. She graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Social Work Degree in 1991 and is a registered Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. Noeleen is a Core Founder and current Chief Executive Officer of Gallang Place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation established in 1994. As CEO of Gallang Place, Noeleen has been instrumental in spearheading workable and achievable strategies to ‘Closing the Gap’ around the many symptoms of unresolved intergenerational grief and trauma impacting on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in today’s evolving society. Gallang Place is a trauma informed organization and accredited under the (Quality Improvement Council) QIC Standards.

Noeleen is a trained mediator with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in Brisbane and is the Founder of the Ghungalu Aboriginal Corporation which is involved in Native Title issues. Noeleen recently won a federal government scholarship for governance training which includes membership to the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Noeleen is a former Board Member of the Southern Queensland Regional Parole Board from 2001 – 2013 and she is a current Director of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation.

Special Guest Presenter Elders Panel: Aunty Kathy Brown | Caboolture Elder

Biography: Aunty Kathy Brown was born in Burketown in Northwest Queensland, near Doomagee. She is of the Waanyi and, Kalkadoon Nation. Her Country stretches out right up to Lawn Hill mines. Aunty Kathy worked as a domestic Nurse for 32 years at the Winton hospital. Before this she worked at the Windemere Cattle Station at Winton for 2 years as a housemaid and nanny for the children of the Station Owner. She moved from Winton to Inala in 1964, and lived in Inala until 2004. 

In Inala, Aunty Kathy worked for 13 years at the Inala Serviceton South State School and was very happy to be there because she was also there for her children. After retiring from her job at the Inala Serviceton South State School, she moved up to the North Coast region with her husband. She lived on Bribie Island and Wamuran and has been living in Caboolture for the past 13 years. Aunty Kathy is a mother of four, grandmother of 13 and has 12 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Over the years, she has been a housewife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and great great grandmother; always taking care of all of her children, her grandchildren and great grans and now her great great gran.

Although retired, Aunty Kathy has been actively involved in the Community on a number of Boards and Elder Groups. She is also a member of the Waminda Respite Centre where she is involved in the Centre's activities for the elderly. CentaCare Waminda was established in Ningi in 1997 to respond to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the Caboolture Shire. She is also involved with the Tullawong High School providing support and encouragement to Indigenous students to achieving results through Indigenous education, her great granddaughter is a student at this school.

Currently, Aunty Kathy is a member of the Caboolture Elders and is actively involved in the Caboolture Community, providing support to individuals and families. She is a senior member of the Caboolture Justice Group, assisting people whilst on probation and supporting those who come before the criminal justice system. Aunty Kathy also sits as an Elder on the Caboolture Murri Court and has been an Elder on the Murri Court for 5 years. She became a member of the Pamanyungan Elders Alliance Inc. in 2014 and received a Certificate of Appreciation for her tireless work and valuable contributions to the Community. Aunty Kathy is a pillar of strength in her family and community, always taking care of everyone and lending a helping hand to those who need it.

Special Guest Speaker: Waina Pene, Social Work Practitioner, Aotearoa/New Zealand

Biography: Introducing Waina

Ko Kahuranaki taku Maunga

Ko Tukituki taku Awa

Ko Takitimu taku waka

Ko Ngati Kahungunu taku Iwi

Ko Houngarea taku marae

No Pakipaki ahau engari kei Heretaunga i noho ana inaianei

Ko Waina Pene ahau

Waina Pene is Tangata Whenua, a descendant of Ngati Rangi and Nagti Kahungunu to Aotearoa. She has three children in whom she adores and have been her greatest teachers.

As the daughter of Ngati Rangi, from the mountain of Koro Ruapehu, she began, out of the depths of Koro Ruapehu her rise and fall as waters of Whangaehu joining the mountains to the sea.

To the coastal origins of Ngati Kahungunu, daughter of the same devine waters traversing out of the belly of Papatuanuku our earth mother and ancient one. Arrive at the gateway of the fertile Heretaunga plains. It is under the hills of Pekapeka you will find her residing in the place she calls home.

Under the mantel of Kahuranaki with the mandering flow of the Tukituki river to greet the awaiting arms of Tangaroa, the sea.

Waina has close to 20yrs working as a social work practitioner. Central to her role as a Social worker her passion as a healer gained strength and connection through the guidance of spiritual elements.

Having witnessed first hand the struggles and conflicts of her people enforced through colonization and its transfer from generation to generation, Waina has more recently focused on her teaching of a new generation of social workers.

The focus of Waina’s teaching methodology is in her peoples connection to wairua, their spirituality and connection to genealogy that embeds their land and life force as a living breathing entity. It is here in this life journey that Waina draws from spiritual elements simultaneously together in enhancing her students own individual life experience in allowing them to become practitioners in the field.

Special Guest Speaker: Grant Sarra, Cultural Educator, Indigenous Executive, Change Agent, Trainer, Workshop Facilitator, Project Manager and Report Writer 

Biography: Grant Sarra has a thirty-seven year background and experience working in areas that deal exclusively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community aspirations, problems and issues relevant to public and private sector organisations and projects throughout Australia. Grant is from the Bunda (Broom[e]) family clan - Gooreng Gooreng people and country.

Grant is an experienced (but not expert) Indigenous Executive, Change Agent, Trainer, Workshop Facilitator, Project Manager and Report Writer. He was nominated for the National Human Rights Medal in November 2000 in recognition for the development and delivery of Strategic Indigenous Awareness Program – To understand the present, we must understand the past, and for his service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Grant is prolific writer and speaker on Indigenous issues with an excellent track record of producing tangible results, driving large scale cultural change and building organisational effectiveness, efficiency and capacity to deliver culturally appropriate, community sensitive and business-minded outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, and public and private sector organisations across Australia.

Grant is passionate about change, dignity and integrity - changing the way we think, feel and behave toward each other to become good human beings but having the dignity and the integrity to know what it means to become a good human being. In his consultancy work he embraces four basic, but very important principles, which guide the way he thinks, feels and behaves – Cultural Honour and Integrity in the way he engages and does business and Cultural Dignity and Humility in the way he behaves in the presence of others while on their country.

Malu Mai Wellness Consultancy is proud to present our Special Guest Speaker for the World First Nations Traditional Knowledge Conference, Basketball Legend, Leroy Loggins Foundation...

Biography: Leroy Loggins, The Legend was born on the 20th December 1957 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, and grew up in the toughest of neighbourhoods in Baltimore, Maryland, where drugs and murder were everyday things.

A 195 cm guard/ forward Loggins is a retired professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball League from 1981 until 2001.

In 1981 Leroy Loggins joined the Brisbane Bullets for his first NBL season helping the team to their second straight NBL Semi-final. He signed to play for the West Adelaide Bearcats in the 1982. Following the 1983 season, Leroy returned to the Brisbane Bullets where he would play for the remainder of his career.

1990 would see Leroy named as captain of the Bullets. He would continue to captain the Bullets until his retirement following the 2000–01 NBL season. Leroy represented the Australian team in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona

Leroy eventually retired after 21 seasons in the NBL despite still being an integral part of the Bullets line-up at 43 years of age. The number 30 jersey worn by Loggins throughout his career was retired by the Bullets in his honour. Leroy Loggins was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and has been immortalised with a statue located at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

After retirement, Leroy established the Leroy Loggins Foundation in 2002 to provide opportunities for sporting development and social interaction for youth at risk.

The main objective of the Leroy Loggins Foundation & now the Community Organisation is to develop a solution at a local level to issues identified through consultation with key community groups, schools and support organisations that impact on children throughout Brisbane and the surrounding areas.

The key driver to the Organisation’s development is the personal desire of Leroy Loggins. Growing up, Leroy experienced first-hand many of the social issues affecting disadvantaged groups and the lack of opportunities for support to develop sporting and social skills and school based competencies. Using sport as a means to complete education and also as a basis for employment opportunities, Leroy is able to be a practical role model for local children as he can relate to them based on his own experiences.

Special Guest Presenter Elders Panel: Aunty Rose Elu | Cultural Educator | Community Elder, Brisbane, Queensland.

Biography: Aunty Rose Elu was born on Saibai Island top western Torres Strait. Father side Chieftain Clan, (Saibai Koedal ) Mother (Thabu Clan). Her family moved from Saibai Island in the late 1940's to the tip of Australia, the land was given to her family by the traditional owners currently known as SEISIA. Aunty Rose spent her childhood, primary & Secondary education at Bamaga.

Aunty Rose left to do further extended studies in Melbourne and lived there for 17 years. She later moved up to Brisbane to do academic studies at the University of Queensland. She has a BA double major in Anthropology & Political Science, Post graduate study at the University of Hawaii, including a PhD program on Customary Law. She holds a Diploma in Theology. Aunty Rose has been a Public Servant for over 20 years, working for various State Government Departments.

Aunty Rose is also a member in various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, including Association of Social Anthropology in Oceania, Association of Education in the Pacific. She is a worldwide traveller and has presented various papers at the Forums and Universities throughout the world, most recently at United Nations on Climate Change. Aunty Rose also sits on various committees at the Anglican Church of Australia, Church Warden Anglican Non Geographic Parish, Diocese of Brisbane. Aunty Rose currently works for a not-for-profit organisation; namely Relationships Australia Queensland as a Counsellor and Indigenous Service Delivery Advisor.

Special Guest Speaker: Elenora Auki, Social Worker / Mental Health Clinician, Brisbane, Queensland

Biography: I was born in Papua New Guinea. Now Australian citizen.

I attended Catholic Primary and secondary Boarding schools.

After high school I did 2 years Teachers College Training in Papua New Guinea. I taught in Port Moresby Primary School.

I have 4 beautiful children and 8 grandchildren. 5 of my grandchildren are of Aborignal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. They are my pride and joy.

I was divorced and lived as a single mother. I brought my children up while studying at James Cook University Townsville. I completed my 4 years of Bachelor of Social work degree at James Cook University in Townsville, North Queensland.  

In March 2003 I graduated and was working for the Townsville Aborignal and Islander Health Services for years as a Mental Health counsellor. In 2007 October I resigned and moved to NSW. I was employed for the NSW Health for the mainstream mental health unit at the Wagga Based Hospital. where I worked for 9 years as a sole Social work practitioner.

I resign in August of 2017 and moved to Brisbane to live close to my grown babies and grandchildren.

Currently working for myself as contractor as social work clinician in mental health area.

I provided the social work supervision for both Australian Mainstream and Australian aboriginal students on educational field placements. I took on 3rd and 4th year and honors and Masters students both in Qld and University Students.

Thank you

Special Guest Speaker, Malinda Flynn, Art Therapist, Gallang Place, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Counselling Services

Biography: Hi my name is Malinda Flynn and I am a jarrowair-turrbal woman from my mother’s side and Irish Australian on my father’s side. I also have German heritage from my great grandmother. I grew up surrounded by the creative energy of my mother who is a singer songwriter and visual artist. 

Mum, as well as other family members also worked as educators in community organisations and schools, so I had good, strong role models who inspired in me, the spirit of community and of helping others. My mum still continues to give back to our community through her music, storytelling, mentoring, immense generosity, love and kindness.

In a way, I followed my mum’s footsteps, going into teaching, arts and then counselling and support work. It was through my teaching career that I discovered two things, my passion for art and the ability I had to connect with people on a deeper level to help them resolve issues and trauma. About five years ago, I started utilising these skills to work in a more holistic way with various groups in the community to help them tell their stories through art. Stories of trauma, grief and loss, of hope, of love, joy and their dreams of happier futures. I feel that it is each person's birthright to find what makes them truly happy and then how they can share this happiness with those around them. It’s the ripple effect of life. Sometimes to reach happiness or to move forward, it's important to look at anything that might be holding us back such as wounding from trauma and negative self-beliefs.

Visual arts and art therapy processes can help us work on a deeper level as it helps us tell our story through a picture or other art form without words. We as Aboriginal people have used art and pictorial representations for many thousands of years as a means of story-telling, connection to country, kinship and our spirituality long before our languages were translated into a written format.  

My art career started with textiles, namely fabric design but I also have skills in jewellery making, coil weaving and other hand crafts. I have taught art, craft and art therapy at primary, secondary levels, with elders and Indigenous women at the Women’s Prison at Wacol. I am also a SoulCollage facilitator and have run workshops in the local community. My most recent community arts ventures have included Aboriginal mural design in schools and West End Community House. I now work as a counsellor and art therapist at Gallang Place, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Counselling Service. I am also working towards a long-held dream to be a fabric and homewares designer.

As an Aboriginal woman, I am very passionate about utilising art a healing medium to help people tell their inner story and inspire transformation. Art and self-love have been a major part of my healing journey and they continue to be an integral part of my life. I enjoy teaching and sharing the skills I have as I believe it’s part of our responsibility to pass on knowledge to help people, especially youth in whatever we can in life.

Special Guest Presenter Elders Panel: Aunty Rayleen Burns, Social Worker / Community Elder

Biography: Aunty Rayleen Burns was born in Brisbane and is a second generation stolen generation. Her mum was raised in the Cherbourg Girls Dormitory and lived in the Dormitory until she was 14 years of age and then she went to work as a domestic servant for a policeman in Hebel, near Dirranbandi, Southwest Queensland. Her mother met her dad there and they later married in Brisbane.  

Aunty Rayleen is the youngest of 10 kids, 5 sisters and 4 brothers, she has heaps of nieces and nephews. Moved to Brisbane when she was 11, left school at grade 7 to start working in the Northgate Cannery and sewing clothes. She worked for 10 years in the factories. She moved to Mt Isa for work at the Coles Store, and was there for 2 years. She then came back to Brisbane and met her husband, she has four children and is a grandmother to nine grannies and 3 great grans, the youngest is one. She did the usual housewife things, raising her kids and doing part-time work here and there.

She went to kangaroo Point TAFE in 1982 and 1983 and completed a Diploma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Welfare. She got a job with Centrelink in Human Resources, she was there for 9 years and 9 months and during that period she started her Degree in Social Work, studying part-time and graduating in 1992 with a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Queensland, Faculty of Social Work and Social Policy.

After graduating from University of Queensland, she commenced work as at social worker in Aboriginal and Islander community Health Service in Hubert Street in Woolloongabba for 3 years and she then moved to Tennant Creek and worked in Aboriginal Health and then in Mental Health in Queensland Health in Cairns in the Child and Youth Mental Health Services in Cairns.  

From there she moved to Aboriginal Health service in Port Hedlands in WA. And she worked for the Royal Flying doctors services in Hopevale Aboriginal Community in North Queensland and from there she moved to Aboriginal Community Health in the Katherine NT and then from there to Alice Springs to the Central Australia, Aboriginal Congress Alcohol and Drug Program and a short period at the Aboriginal and Islander Institute of Indigenous Health (IUIH) in Morayfield and since then is retired. Her Social Work Degree allowed her to travel the country and work in obscure and interesting places. Furthermore, her work in Social Work has enabled her to travel to the World Indigenous Healing Our Spirit Conference on three occasions in Albuquerque USA, and Edmonton in Canada and in Hawaii. She also visited Tahiti and Thursday Island in the Torres Strait to learn about Torres Strait Islander culture.

Aunty Rayleen was a Board Member of Gallang Place, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Counselling Services and she was also a Board Member of Winnam Housing Co-op, and on the Board of the National Stolen Generation Alliance. In her retirement, she is still travelling, she has just come back from Winton and Longreach, she comes home for a bit and then she’s off again to Uluru in June. She is a quiet achiever and her life’s work has been in the areas of Social and Emotional Well-being in the grassroots Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. A large majority of her work has been with Traditional People in the Remote Communities across Australia. This has been her passion. Although retired, she is still actively involved in this work; addressing the social and emotional well-being in the community. Click on thegummbigummbicottage@hotmail.com

Dr Noritta Morseu-Diop, Managing Director, Malu Mai Wellness Consultancy Pty. Ltd.

Author: Healing in Justice: Giving a Voice to the Silent and Forgotten People 2017

Biography: Dr Noritta Morseu-Diop is a First Nations Australian woman originally from Tamwoy Town, Thursday Island in North Queensland. Her ancestral heritage extends from mainland Australia to the Kulkalgal Nation to the Erubam Le and Ugaram Le and to the Dauareb Clan of the Meriam Nation. She graduated from the School of Social Work and Social Policy in 1992 at the University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus. 

Since that time Noritta has worked extensively in the grassroots Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and within non-Indigenous communities throughout the state of Queensland. The areas of her work include: grief & loss, bereavement counselling and support, criminal justice, prison rehabilitation, mental health, community development, cross-cultural education, social work and welfare education and training, drug and alcohol counselling, Indigenous health and human rights and social justice advocacy.

Noritta was awarded a PhD in Criminal Justice and Social Work at the University of Queensland in the School of Social Work and Human Services, St. Lucia Campus on the 22nd of July, 2010. She is a recipient of the UQ 2010 Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Research and Higher Degree PhD thesis. Noritta is a 2011 Winston Churchill Fellow and a 2006 Australian Federation of University Women Fellow. She is a Co-Founder and current Board of Director of Gallang Place, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Counselling Services based in Brisbane. Noritta is the Founder and current Managing Director of Malu Mai Wellness Consultancy; a family owned company that is committed to addressing the social, emotional, cultural and spiritual well-being of individuals, families and communities on a local, national and international level.

Abstract: CULTURAL HEALING AS REHABILITATION FROM PRISON TO COMMUNITY - THE JOURNEY SO FAR

Bringing Healing to those Forgotten and Silent Peoples, those First Nations Peoples who are incarcerated. It is more than 25 years since the Royal Commission Recommendations into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody...nothing much has changed since that time, our People are still highly represented in the prison and criminal justice system. In her PhD thesis and Book, Noritta describes this high incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as an insidious form of genocide. In light of the current political situation regarding the over-representation and abuse of First Nations Australians in the prison and criminal justice system; Noritta's talk will highlight aspects of healing and her Journey from visiting prisons in Aotearoa / New Zealand and in USA and Canada. Her PhD and her research as a Winston Churchill Fellow investigated the utilisation of Culture as Rehabilitation and Healing Mediums utilised by First Nations Peoples globally.  

Special Guest Speaker; Mr Stephen Corporal BSoc Wk, BA (Psych), Prof Cert IR, MSocPol, Senior Lecturer / PhD Candidate Griffith University, Justice of the Peace (Qual).

Biography: Stephen is an Eastern Arrente man with close family connections to many other First Nations People. He was born in Townsville and lives in Southeast Queensland. He was involved in counselling and welfare work in the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community for many years before completing his Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) degrees at the University of Queensland in 2003.

As President of the Social Work Student Association (SWSA) he was announced the 2003 SBS Valedictorian for his work with Social Work students at the University of Queensland. In 2004-2005, he was the Indigenous Postgraduate Representative for James Cook University's Postgraduate Student Association and the IPLO on CAPA. Stephen was President of the Social Work Alumini at UQ from 2006-2007. He completed a Masters of Social Policy at James Cook University.

Stephen worked as the Senior Student Support Officer at the UQ Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit from 2005 to 2009 and also as the Indigenous Recruitment Manager at the University of Queensland School of Medicin until 2011. He is currently working at Griffith University where he is involved in researching, lecturing and supervising students. Stephen is a PhD Candidate; his PhD research topic is titled" Indigenous health workforce building: University Indigenous students and lecturers' interactions"

bottom of page