Page 2433 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 31 July 2018
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parents group. Previously she also held positions on the ACT NAIDOC committee, assisted in the Indigenous showcase at the Multicultural Festival, was the ACT representative on the National Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee and president of both Canberra and Australian women’s rugby league associations—not to mention a very dear friend of my father’s.
Jo Chivers is a Palawa woman from Tasmania who moved to Canberra in 1993 to take up a graduate position with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. Jo is a single mum of two boys aged 14 and 20 and is passionate about health, education, justice and youth issues that impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT. Jo is the current deputy chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body. In 2016 Jo was elected as ACT Labor’s first Indigenous president. Jo is the chairperson of the Canberra and District NAIDOC Aboriginal Corporation and has been an ACT NAIDOC committee member for around 20 years. Jo is also a role model for other survivors of domestic violence and a mentor to Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff in the Australian public service.
Paula McGrady is a proud Kamilaroi and Goomeri person from Moree and Toomelah in mid-northern New South Wales. She currently works for Bimberi Youth Justice Centre as a family engagement officer. Prior to Bimberi, she had a long history of working in the community sector for over 15 years, working in areas of education, family and domestic violence and sexual assault, and also spent time in the community sector working with vulnerable homeless young people, both male and female. Paula is a member of the current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body.
Caroline Hughes is a Ngunnawal woman, the director of the CIT Yurauna Centre and a current member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body.
As I said, these are only a very few of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women that I could manage to mention in a very short, 10-minute speech. I acknowledge all of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women that participate in their communities. I stand here today to help celebrate their future leadership of their community and of ours. I also remind people, all of us across the ACT community, that this week’s NAIDOC theme, “Because of her, we can!” is a wonderful thing that we should all live for and live by.
MR MILLIGAN (Yerrabi) (4.08): I thank Ms Cody for submitting this very important topic for discussion here today. We have just celebrated NAIDOC Week across Australia. This year’s theme, “Because of her, we can!” highlighted the important role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women play in our Indigenous society. It was wonderful to see awards for female Indigenous leaders here in Canberra at some of the local events.
The National Museum of Australia had guided tours and talks; the National Gallery hosted a weaving class for children and held healing circle meditation courses. Perhaps one of the best events was the family day at the University of Canberra. Much like the Winnunga 30th birthday celebrations earlier this year, this was a family focused event.
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