13 Jul

Anglicare celebrates NAIDOC Week

Anglicare celebrates NAIDOC Week

Anglicare Southern Queensland is celebrating the valuable contribution of its Indigenous staff and volunteers during NAIDOC Week.

This year’s NAIDOC theme – ‘Because of Her We Can’ – celebrates the women in our communities and acknowledges the significant impact they have on our lives.

Executive Director Karen Crouch said Anglicare was strengthening its connections with, and understanding of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

“We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce that is representative of everyone in our community and we are very proud of the contributions made by our Indigenous staff and volunteers,” Ms Crouch said.

“From Foster and Kinship Carers to Youth Workers and Cultural Support Workers, we are blessed to have many capable, caring and dedicated people working with us.”

We spoke to some of our Indigenous staff to find out more about their roles with Anglicare and what NAIDOC Week means to them.

Cherie El Kacimi

What Nation and you and your family from?

My mother is a Kamilaroi woman  from Coonabarabran New South Wales, who was removed as a young child and placed in Parramatta Girls Home until she was 18 years old (Stolen Generation). I am also a Kamilaroi woman however I grew up on Wiradjuri Country in Wagga Wagga as we had a lot of extended family that belong to Wiradjuri country as well.

What is your role at Anglicare? 

I am a Foster and Kinship Care Practitioner and my role includes working with Kinship Carers to support them in the early days of a child or young person being placed with their family.

What does NAIDOC Week mean to you? 

NAIDOC Week for my family is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and a time to share this knowledge and experiences with our community, to bring awareness of the history and to move forward as community.

Who are some inspirational women that inspire you in your life and role? 

My mother is my inspiration. Mum was removed from her family at a young age and never received an education or knowledge about parenting or the world in general, but still was able to raise her children and educate herself and be a positive role model for her family.

Shaun Briggs

What Nation and you and your family from?

I am a Gumbaynngirr man (Mum’s clan) (Coffs Harbour region, New South Wales). My father’s people are the Yaegyl clan (Yamba New South Wales. My ‘Totem’ is the Dolphin (Dad’s totem). A totem is an animal or creature passed down to the current family members.

I am an ex-NRL player that represented the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2004 at the World Cup sevens tournament held at the Sydney Football Stadium. I also scored 60 points in NSW Country Rugby League for the Ballina Seagulls (eight tries and 14 from 15 goals) in 2003.

What is your role at Anglicare? 

My role is a Residential Youth Worker (RYW). I’ve been working for almost nine months now. I care/supervise/mentor our young male persons at the age of 14-15 years in the residence, on a 24-hour shift in a fortnight roster. I have a great positive rapport with the young males and, most of all, I love my job!

What does NAIDOC Week mean to you? 

NAIDOC celebrations is the modern day of coming together (Corroboree) and acknowledgment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We share music, food, clothing and artwork for our younger generation as we learned from our elders, past and present.

Who are some inspirational women that inspire you in your life and role? 

I have four beautiful influential ladies in my life that I have the utmost inspirational respect for – my mother and my fiancée. They have supported my highs and lows and help guide me through tough times. Also I cannot forget my two older sisters that protected and supported me through my sporting achievements.

Debbie Fletcher

What Nation and you and your family from? 

My family have connections to Badu Island, Torres Strait and Kalkadoon Nation, Winton.

What is your role at Anglicare?

I am a Practitioner on the Foster and Kinship Team with Children and Families. My work entails supporting non-Indigenous carers who are caring for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.  Primarily I am responsible for ensuring the carers are connected to community, engage in culturally appropriate activities, information provision about the children’s country and language etc.  I also work closely with the Indigenous Practice Advisors within the Service Centres relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the program.

What does NAIDOC Week mean to you?

NAIDOC Week means an acknowledgment of my peoples’ culture, it is a celebration of the beautiful traditions, practices and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While it is also an acknowledgement of our history, I prefer to think about as a national celebration which all Australians can identify with and be proud to be a part of.

Who are some inspirational women that inspire you in your life and role?

My mother and grandmother instilled in me the belief that women are strong, determined and resilient. Both women gave me the courage to attempt things that I may not have been otherwise brave enough to do. For instance I was the first of my family to obtain a Bachelor Degree in Human Services (Social Sciences) and I am currently studying my Masters in Indigenous Studies. Our history is strong and our family connected and it is important to me that I continue to encourage other women in my family such as my daughter and granddaughter to never give up and be brave.

Noel Doyle

What Nation are you and your family from?

My blood connection lies with the Pitta Pitta from North West Queensland

What is your role at Anglicare?

I’m the Cultural Support Worker for Anglicare Underwood Office. I support Carers with Community and Cultural information while connecting the Young Person to Country.

What does NAIDOC Week mean to you?

NAIDOC is a wonderful time for our People, it’s a time for Celebration, Enjoyment, Participation, Awareness, Variety, Engagement and Remembering time, people and family.

Who are some inspirational women that inspire you in your life and role? 

My mother Alice James and Brisbane Black Elder, who I miss every day. Nanna Ida Currie, My sister Joslyn Eatts, other Elders Aunty Jessy, Aunty Berryl, Aunty Jean Jacks and plenty more Deadly women.

Olivene Yasso

Where are you from? 

I was born in Bowen but grew up in Katherine. My father’s family is from Yiman Nation.

What is your role at Anglicare? 

Developing the cultural capabilities of Anglicare.

Who are the women that inspire you in your life? 

There’s my mum, my aunties, my two nannas. Mum was a single mum with four kids all close in age. Went to university, worked for government. She was really brave. She would regularly drive from Katherine to Bowen with us kids and back for holidays (if anyone knows that route, they know it’s dangerous). She always baked from scratch and always healthy. I learnt that from her. She studied counselling at uni then case management and finally studied to be a teacher. She also had epilepsy from a young age, but was healed in her early 20s, but consequently her health suffered. She’s the smartest woman I know.

 

Find out more about careers with Anglicare Southern Queensland here.