Heidi is a proud Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman, who grew up in towns across Western Sydney and Western NSW.
She has a deep understanding of the issues facing her Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and has devoted her life to breaking the cycle.
With personal and familial experience within foster care and kinship care, and over 17 years of experience working in the NSW Foster Care system, Heidi is passionate about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, as well as their families.
A staunch advocate for family preservation and restoration, kinship care and the recruitment of culturally appropriate carers, Heidi believes the core of her work is about advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.
While Heidi works tirelessly to recruit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers, there are not enough to meet the needs of the community. Heidi believes this advocacy is her personal and cultural responsibility, and she is determined to help create change and empower others to change, too.
What drives Heidi to continue her work is the hope for the emerging generation of empowered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be strong in their culture and connected to family, land and community.
Heidi has been part of the NBAC family through its many evolutions, working as Operations Manager during its tenure as Link-Up NSW Aboriginal Corporation, and as Aboriginal General Manager while managed by Barnardos Australia until its incorporation in 2019.
Heidi also currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Leukaemia Foundation, the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies and the Financial Legal Rights Centre.