Dr James Beaufils is a Mulwaree Gundungurra and Kanak Senior Research Fellow. His research works across Indigenous justice, child protection, youth justice, education, criminology and systems reform. Drawing on his professional background in corrections, education and policy, he examines how institutions shape the lives of children, families and communities, and how research can support practical change. His work brings together community engagement, critical policy analysis and applied evaluation to challenge carceral approaches and strengthen culturally grounded alternatives in justice, care and education systems.

Jackie Wruck is a proud Yindinji woman from FNQ, Cairns/Yarrabah region. She is the Asia Pacific Regional Manager for Safe & Together Institute here in Australia.

She has extensive experience in the government and non-governmental agencies by working in Child Protection, DFV counselling, Indigenous and Queensland health, family wellbeing services as well as community housing and homelessness services.

As a child/adult survivor she uses her lived experience of both lateral and intimate partner violence to help others understand the added complexities when working with families who experience DFV alongside racism and other inequalities.

Jackie is a Safe & Together Certified Trainer and has been mentoring and coaching other professionals in its use.  She’s been involved with numerous research projects involving the Safe & Together Model and has been an invited speaker on DFV, the Safe & Together Model and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in a culturally safe way across various regions in Australia.

Jodie recently completed her PhD at the Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW. Her research investigated the systems of thought and practice underpinning contemporary NSW child protection work with Aboriginal families; through a case study of the problematisation of intergenerational trauma in NSW child protection policy directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Prior to commencing her PhD, Jodie spent over 10 years in government and non-government youth and family services, including juvenile justice, child protection, and alternative education services. Jodie has also completed degrees in psychology, community development, and media and communications.

Dr Christine Deslandes is Senior Project Officer at the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency. Christine’s work focuses on a range of areas including building Aboriginal evidence to support program delivery and design. She is passionate about working with Community to capture what is important to them, and the benefits and importance of Aboriginal-led services.

Wendy Hermeston (PhD Law) is a Wiradjuri researcher and Senior Research Fellow at The ALIVE National Centre, University of Melbourne. Her career spans law and justice, social and emotional wellbeing, health and child and family sectors, including roles as a Link-Up (NSW) senior caseworker during and post the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families, and on ACCO and government boards. Grounded in lived-experience, her research programme prioritises First Nations-led, evidence-based solutions to longstanding community challenges in the care jurisdiction. Dr. Hermeston’s work integrates qualitative, socio-legal and community-based knowledges and methodologies to examine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child welfare and social and emotional wellbeing-related issues.

Madeline Hardess is an ally who lives on Boonwurrung Country between wetlands and the bay, an hour out of Melbourne. She invested more than a decade in oversight, analysis and evaluation of family services, and moving from an embedded evaluator in government to ACCO work life a year ago feels just right. Working alongside community, walking, listening and supporting is the best job. Over the decade Madeline has led statistical analysis for systemic inquiries at the Victorian Commission for Children and Young People including’ Always was, Always will be Koori Children’, ‘In our own words’, and ’…as a good parent would…’. Building on this early career foundation she developed as a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning specialist for family services, leading and delivering the first evaluation of Victoria’s new leaving care reform package in 2023. Currently leading the Latrobe Valley Community Data Project, a priority reform four National Agreement on Closing the Gap project at VACCA, Madeline led the finalization of the business case submitted to Treasury and advised statewide advocacy efforts for design, funding and establishment. Reflecting on the scoping effort for the Place-based partnership and Community Data Project the evaluation revealed the need for shared obligations to partners, relationship first, and the need for empathy – understanding the lens and experience of another. Madeline is keen to yarn about partnerships between Community and Government, the application of Indigenous Data Sovereignty, chickens and sailing. So come find me and say hello.

I am a proud Gomeroi yinarr, social worker, and Co-Founder of Warranggal Baawaa, with a strong passion for creating spaces where Aboriginal girls and young women feel empowered, connected, and heard. My work is grounded in culture, community, and a deep commitment to ensuring our young people are seen beyond statistics, labels, and systems.

Across my career I have worked within Social Work, Community Services, Child Protection, Family Law, Aboriginal wellbeing, and Out-of-Home Care (OOHC), supporting children, young people, and families navigating complex systems and experiences. Through this work, I have witnessed both the strengths and resilience within our communities, as well as the barriers that can impact young people’s wellbeing, identity, and sense of belonging.

My passion sits in creating opportunities that strengthen culture, confidence, leadership, and self-determination for Aboriginal girls and young women. Through Warranggal Baawaa, I work alongside young people to create culturally safe spaces that centre their voices, celebrate who they are, and remind them of the strength they already carry. I believe that meaningful change happens when young people are given the opportunity to feel connected, supported, and empowered to lead in ways that are true to themselves and their communities.

I am committed to continuing this work through advocacy, mentoring, and community-led approaches that create lasting impact for future generations.

I am a proud Gomeroi and Yuin yinarr committed to the wellbeing, empowerment, and cultural safety of Aboriginal girls and young women. Working on Darkinjung and Awabakal Country, I bring both lived experience and professional knowledge to Warranggal Baawaa, grounded in a deep responsibility to culture, kin, and community.

My professional background spans Community Services, including Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) and Targeted Early Intervention (TEI), and Aboriginal Education, where I currently work to support young people in remaining connected to culture and community. Across these spaces, I have seen firsthand the power of culturally safe, strengths-based support in the lives of Aboriginal girls and young women, and the critical importance of early, community-led intervention.

My passion is centred around strengthening identity, connection to culture, and self-determination for Aboriginal girls and young women. Through Warranggal Baawaa, I aim to provide mentoring that is strengths-based, culturally responsive, and grounded in love, leadership, and community. As I continue my studies and professional practice, I am committed to expanding this work and creating meaningful, lasting change.

Barry McGrady is a proud Gomeroi man born and raised in Moree and Toomelah and moved to a boarding school at St Joseph’s College in Sydney to purse an higher education attainment. He has worker as the Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer with the Department of Education for 3 years then worked at behaviour school settings with Bridge Rd School to transition kids back to mainstream school settings for 6 years.

He has worked in the Out of home Care sector in NSW for the past 8 years with a non-government organisation Allambi Care. His experience has changed many hearts and minds within the sector through his motivation to get youth with family and community and educational support for staff to best engage and support Aboriginal children and families.

Aunty Debra Swan is an Gomeroi woman from Moree and a founding member of Grandmothers Against Removal (GMAR) NSW. She is a Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, previously working in NSW child protection system for 13 years as a caseworker, and brings strong experience and knowledge of the child protection and its impacts on Aboriginal children and families to the Review. Aunty Debra, along with Suellyn Tighe and Jennifer Swan, was instrumental in developing guiding principles for strengthening local Aboriginal participation in child protection decision-making NSW and drawing attention to issues in child protection nationally.

Kristy is the Principal Solicitor for the care and protection and family law teams with the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT). Kristy has dedicated her career to the child protection sector, having worked in various roles with the Department of Communities and Justice before commencing with the ALS in April 2024. Kristy is an accredited Independent Children’s Lawyer with the Family Court and Independent and Directly Legal Representative with the Children’s Court. Kristy currently leads a team of about 60 staff who fiercely advocate within the care and protection, family law and family violence jurisdictions with the united goal of improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, supporting them to remain connected to Kin, Culture and Country by empowering their voices. Kristy contributed to the development and implementation of the Winha-nga-nha list, which is a designated Children’s Court list for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, being piloted in Dubbo. Kristy lives and works on Bundjalung Country although has worked in many communities including Gamilaraay (Moree/Narrabri) and Birpai (Port Macquarie/Taree) and Dunghutti (Kempsey).

My Name is Angie Lonesborough. I’m the Co-Manager of the Nabu Restoration and Preservation Program at Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation In Nowra. As a proud Wodi Wodi Walbunja woman raised on the South Coast of New South Wales, I bring a strong cultural identity, lived experience, and deep connection to community into all aspects of my work.

With 17 years of service at Waminda, including more than a decade of experience in casework, I have developed extensive knowledge and skills in supporting Aboriginal women and their families through complex challenges. My professional practice is grounded in culturally safe, trauma-informed, and community-led approaches, with a strong focus on advocacy, empowerment, and holistic wellbeing.

Throughout my career, I have worked closely with women to navigate mainstream service systems, ensuring they are able to access the support they need in ways that respect their cultural identity and circumstances. I am particularly passionate about strengthening pathways for Aboriginal families, reducing barriers to services, and promoting self-determination through culturally responsive practice.

In my role with the Nabu Restoration and Preservation Program, I am dedicated to supporting healing, restoration, and the preservation of cultural and community connections. My work reflects a commitment to building stronger outcomes for future generations, guided by community knowledge, collaboration, and respect.

Dr Rebecca Lyons is a Wiradjuri / Ngiyampaa / Ngunnawal woman, Senior Lecturer and Associate Dean (Indigenous) in the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University. She is contributing to the Charter of Lifelong Rights in Childhood Recordkeeping in Out-of-Home Care, improving access to records for Children in Care, Care Leavers and the Stolen Generations. She is part of the Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Living Archives on Country program team and is Co-Chair of the iSchools Indigenous Research Collective. Her research focuses on Indigenous Data Sovereignty, Recordkeeping rights, and socially responsible technology, supporting community-controlled approaches to data and cybersecurity.

Dr Nina Lewis is part of the IDSLA (Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Living Archives) research team at Monash University. She has worked professionally as an archivist, academic, program manager, and policy researcher; supporting equitable outcomes in contexts including child protection, data governance and information justice. Her work seeks to honour the complexity of human experience and enhance opportunities for lived- and practice-based knowledges to carry weight and counter bias in the evidence bases that shape social policy and decision making.

Barbara is a research consultant on the Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Living Archives on Country program. As an independent archives and records consultant, she has collaborated with a range of government, non-government, private and non-profit organisations in Australia and internationally. In her career, Barbara has worked on issues empowering access to records for the Care Leaver Community and the Stolen Generations. Much of her consulting work has been focused on developing recordkeeping practices and competencies, transforming recordkeeping into digital practice and working with a range of stakeholders to create strategic interventions through standards and best practice guidelines.

Emeritus Professor Sue McKemmish PhD has researched and published extensively on recordkeeping in society, records continuum theory and modeling, recordkeeping metadata, and archival systems, the development of more inclusive archival research and educational programs to meet the needs of diverse communities, and of participatory, community- and people-centred archival research methodologies. She is a Laureate of the Australian Society of Archivists and member of the Hall of Fame of the Global Records and Information Management Association. Over the past 20 years her research has focused on Australian First Nations Rights in Records, Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Living Archives, and the Recordkeeping Rights of Children and Young People in Out of Home Care.

Wayne “Buddy” Hippi is a proud Gomeroi man from Boggabilla and Toomelah and the Founder and Director of Winangali Infusion Pty Ltd.  With over 20 years of experience, Buddy works across community, government, education, and corporate sectors delivering cultural consultancy, community empowerment, strategic planning, cultural wellness, and On-Country learning experiences. His work is deeply grounded in lived and living experience, cultural knowledge, and community connection. Buddy is also the Founder of The Block Program, a community-led initiative strengthening connection, belonging, wellbeing, leadership, and culture through the BLOCK Model and Four Pillars framework.

Kylie Mason is an experienced family preservation practitioner and leader with a strong commitment to supporting children, families, and communities to achieve safe and sustainable outcomes. Kylie spent 3 years as a practitioner at Wandiyali, where she developed extensive experience working alongside families and building strong relationships with the community. She is particularly passionate about supporting Aboriginal families and is recognised for her ability to connect with, advocate for, and empower families experiencing complex challenges. Kylie has significant experience working with women experiencing domestic and family violence and is dedicated to delivering compassionate, evidence informed support. Recently appointed as a Team Leader of the Aboriginal Family Preservation (AFP) program, Kylie brings a collaborative leadership style and deep commitment to Culturally responsive practice, supporting both families and practitioners to create meaningful and lasting change. 

Gemma McKinnon is a Barkindji woman from Wilcannia on the Darling River (Baaka) in far west NSW and Principal Solicitor, Closing the Gap at the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT). Gemma has interest in public law and politics, and works with Aboriginal communities in NSW on developing governance and self-determination structures to enable a shift in power from government to community.