Yaama gayrr ngaya Yirrin,Kamilaroi/Mandandanji, Maliyan, Dhinawan, Marayn, Biyaagarr. Condamine-dhi.

My name is Erin, I am from Kamilaroi and Mandandanji Nations. My totems are the wedge-tail eagle, emu, dingo and small brown falcon.My connections and family are originally from Kamilaroi Country in NSW. I feel strong connections and love toward both mobs respectfully.

For the past decade I have researched, developed and delivered through Aboriginal ways of learning, across many education sectors. Through this process I created an Aboriginal Pedagogy entitled: ‘Winanga-Li’, which is accompanied by ‘The Winanga-Li Teachers Program’.

This program is directly helping educators from all sectors embed Indigenous perspectives; creating culturally inclusive classrooms and workplaces. It is my dreaming, my overarching goal, to help people understand, celebrate and participate in Indigenous cultures respectfully.

Selwyn Button was appointed for a 5-year term as a full time Commissioner in June 2024.

Selwyn is Gungarri man from Southwest Queensland and an experienced leader of health, education and governance organisations across the public, private, not-for-profit and community-controlled sectors.

Prior to joining the Commission, Selwyn was partner of PwC Indigenous Consulting (PIC); national Registrar of the Office of the Registrar for Indigenous Corporations, the Assistant Director-General for Indigenous Education in Queensland, Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, and Chair of the Lowitja Institute.

Selwyn has led major policy, service delivery, governance and legislative reforms in his various leadership roles and has significant contributions through his service as a board member of numerous sporting, arts, culture, health and early childhood education and care organisations. He was a former primary school teacher and Queensland police officer

Selwyn is currently working on the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Review inquiry and co-leads the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream of work at the PC

Joanne Alford has worked in education for almost 30 years. She has a vast amount of experience in a variety of different educational settings such as a remote Aboriginal community, a high performing International school (Malaysia) as well as teaching across independent, catholic and government sectors. Joanne was the Principal at Berry Street School for 3 years and is currently the Principal of Centralian Senior College in Alice Springs. The college is the only senior government school in Alice Springs and has a ratio of 53% Aboriginal students. She has experience in developing and implementing wellbeing curriculum in schools using evidenced based approaches such as positive education, trauma informed and relationship based teaching and learning. Committed to school improvement, Joanne is the Central Chapter chair on the NT Principals association, a member of the board for the NT teacher registration board and is currently completing her training to be a school reviewer for the NT Department of Education and training.

Rosalyn Thomas is a Dunghutti woman from Kempsey on the mid-north coast of NSW, who grew up and lives on Darug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains.
Rosalyn is the Senior Consultant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education at the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, leading the Waratah Project across 45 schools along with providing support to all NSW independent schools to enhance educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and enable teachers to build confidence to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and languages across all curriculum areas.

With 12 years’ experience teaching in schools across Western Sydney in NSW, Rosalyn has taught in both mainstream and special needs classes, along with holding key school leadership and executive positions.
Rosalyn has a Master of Educational Leadership and a recipient of the NSW Quality Teaching Award for her work in building high-expectation relationships with Aboriginal students and their families within the Special Education context.

Wiradjuri man Ben Bowen is the CEO of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF). Ben is a proud Aboriginal man, a descendent of the Wiradjuri Nation with family links to the Gandangara, Dharrawal and Yuin Nations. He was born and raised on the Gadigal and Wangal lands of the Sydney basin. Ben has worked nationally and internationally, collaborating with both Indigenous Communities and government to create opportunities in education, health, and economic development. He has extensive experience in systems leadership and strategy. Since 2007, Ben has worked for and with First Nations people in the not-for-profit sector, building programs, developing strategy, sourcing funding, collaborating with partners, and shaping thought leadership within the university sector. As a former professional athlete, he understands the power of teamwork and believes in leading from within the team, nurturing a sense of circular responsibility and accountability, each person to the other. He believes that we are lifelong learners and is passionate about early childhood education and the power of literacy.

Lesley identifies as Anmatyere and Jaru through her biological family from the Central Desert regions. Mother of one daughter, Aunty to many. A second generation stolen generation child; Lesley grew up on Turrbal and Yuggera country in the suburb of Inala. Then relocated to Yugambeh country in her late teens where she commenced her work in the Public Service as an Indigenous Teacher Aide at Biggera Waters Primary School and Southport High School.

Lesley, holds a Bachelor of Human Services which was conferred at Griffith University (Logan
Campus) in 2009. She commenced in the Connected Beginnings Director role in Angurugu, Groote Eylandt in February 2021.

Lesley’s published work includes Listening with Respect: StrengtheningCommunication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Darlington Y, Garland L & Hall, K. ed.s
2007 published by the University of Queensland and ‘Cultural identity, kinship and connections in early childhood’. In Reconciliation in Action, edited J. Goodwin and Hydon. Early Childhood Australia 2023.

She has extensive experience, knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal service delivery
throughout Australia in urban, rural and remote communities. She has worked in education, child protection, family support, youth justice, health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment (human resources) and currently working in an early years education and care program.This work in Aboriginal Affairs has spanned over 20 years in the Public, Private and non-government sectors.

Lesley’s commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities is her life’s work and provides her the motivation to make a difference. Her resilience is inspiring from being a child in care to working in Leadership positions.

She truly values the contribution and commitment of people that work towards improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities including her current Connected Beginnings Team.

Social impact takes time, building capacity of local Aboriginal people is the best investment for the sustainability of future generations. Her motto is “every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential!”

Anne Hodge having worked in the Disability Sector for many years took an opportunity with 54 Reasons as a Program Manager in Remote Community. For the past 71/2 years Anne has been working across Doomadgee and Mornington Island as a Senior Manager in the Children and Family Centres and Daycare Centre. Based in Townsville Annes spends most of her time working in the Gulf with a passion for working with children and families in the early years space. With a love of the outdoors, camping and fishing her work has taken her across the country working with 54Reasons also spending time in Kununarra. Anne supports a range of services across the Gulf and her enthusiasm for working in the remote communities and ensuring that services, the teams and families, children and the communities are provided with proactive services and opportunities for individual and community growth.

Isabel Toby was born and raised in Doomadgee. Her and her husband Chris have four children, 1 girl and three boys, and 7 grandchildren. Isabel is from the Wannyi/Ganngalidda tribe, Isabel’s mum is Ganngalidda, and her father is a Wannyi man. Isabel completed up to year 10 in Doomadgee before becoming a teacher aid at the local school, working to support the children. Isabel has been working for 54Reasons for 11 years. She was one of the original workers when the organization first started in Doomadgee and has watched it grow over the years. 11 years ago, 54 Reasons, which was known then as Save the Children, ran their programs alongside the Nicholson riverbank, before the office was established in 2013. Isabel shows her passion for her community through her dedication to ensuring the families and children in Doomadgee are afforded every opportunity to grow, develop and thrive

Dawn Aplin (Waanyi Clan) was born in Burketown. She moved to Doomadgee as a young child where she attended the Doomadgee State School until she completed Year 7. She then moved to Malanda to attend the Malanda State High School to complete years 8 and 9. After she completed her schooling Dawn moved back to Doomadgee and commenced working. Dawn work experience includes working for the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council as a Pay Clerk for 11 years, and for the Community Development Employment Projects program as a Sign-up Officer. Dawn has been working at 54 Reasons since 2016 across a variety of children’s programs and activities. Dawn has five children, three boys and two girls, is a grandmother of 18 grandchildren and a great grandmother of two great-grandchildren. She enjoys fishing in her spare time as well as going out on country with her family to camp and hunt. Dawn enjoys working with the families and children and is a productive team member, her motivation and concern is to provide opportunities to make a that support making a positive difference in her community

My full job title is teacher at Kirwan State High School, I teach junior HPE, junior Science, senior PE and co run the netball academy and in my 5th year of teaching.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Health, Sport & Physical Education (honours) degree from UQ in Brisbane I got the opportunity to work rurally in Charters Towers at the state high school for 3 years from 2021-2023. I loved working and living in Charters Towers where I got so many opportunities such as taking on a senior ATAR physical education subject in my first year, being a part of the schools first ever Wearable Art Project (People, Culture and Country) and later running this project myself. The project included a timetabled lesson each week where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students would brainstorm, design , create and professionally model a wearable art piece each year representing themselves as students, First Nations people and members of the Charters Towers community, whilst paying respect to the traditional owners of the Gudjala people. I also got the opportunity to be a positive education mentor at CTSHS where I would run the student representative council and organise events, discos, assemblies etc.

I then transferred to Townsville at the start of 2024 and began my teaching journey at Kirwan SHS. The change from a small school to a much larger one was a shock at first but slowly found my feet across my classes and especially co running the Netball Academy. I have played high level netball my whole life and represented in the Indigenous Australian U18s team that played at the world championships in 2015 so it was refreshing to return back to a space where my passion for the sport was reignited. I have gotten opportunities at Kirwan such as managing the U12s boys NQ Netball team in 2024 and continuing in 2025 and intend on being a part of the Wearable Art project again this year.

My passion and love of teaching is deeply rooted in my Aboriginal culture and educating all students to try and help them achieve their very best in their chosen endeavours and do my part to attempt to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous education.

Yaama gayrr ngaya Yirrin,Kamilaroi/Mandandanji, Maliyan, Dhinawan, Marayn, Biyaagarr. Condamine-dhi.

My name is Erin, I am from Kamilaroi and Mandandanji Nations. My totems are the wedge-tail eagle, emu, dingo and small brown falcon.My connections and family are originally from Kamilaroi Country in NSW. I feel strong connections and love toward both mobs respectfully.

For the past decade I have researched, developed and delivered through Aboriginal ways of learning, across many education sectors. Through this process I created an Aboriginal Pedagogy entitled: ‘Winanga-Li’, which is accompanied by ‘The Winanga-Li Teachers Program’.

This program is directly helping educators from all sectors embed Indigenous perspectives; creating culturally inclusive classrooms and workplaces. It is my dreaming, my overarching goal, to help people understand, celebrate and participate in Indigenous cultures respectfully.