I’m a proud Yorta Yorta Man, born on Yorta Yorta country in the small town of Mooroopna; just a short drive from Shepparton. I’ve got ties to Bundjalung, Wiradjuri and Gunai/Kurnai mob through my nan and pop. Most of my extended family still reside in and around Mooroopna/Shepparton. My immediate family moved to beautiful WaddaWurrung Country when I was young, so I had the pleasure of growing up in Geelong.

Throughout my experiences in life, I have always tried to take up space as one of the only Aboriginal students. In the entirety of my schooling years, I was often hand-balled the classic tokenistic gestures that had no real outcome. These performances, as well as not having many mob around, made me feel shame. I felt isolated and disconnected to my culture at times. To help myself get over these feelings of shame, I’d surround myself with my family; my loud, proud and unapologetically Blak family. My 23 first cousins really help me visualise who the next leaders will be. This encourages me to thrive every day for the next generation of Blak excellence. 

My Great Pop Allan Charles, a 91-year-old Yorta Yorta man, is a true inspiration to me. He is the first Aboriginal man in the entire Goulbourn valley to have owned a house AND a business at the same time. He has taught me that ‘if you want something done right—do it yourself’. I try to embody that idea of self-determination into my work and personal life daily. He was born up on the Cummergunja Mission, where he lived in his early years until 1939; when his family joined the Cummergunja Walk Off and they crossed the Murray River into Vic and settled in Mooroopna. As stubborn as he is, he is truly a hero of mine, and at 91 years old he still commits to playing golf and feeding the kookaburras on his back fence daily. 

My Great Nan, Betty (Grace) Charles, grew up in Bairnsdale and was a Proud Gunai/Kurnai Woman. She lived all over Victoria, travelling up and down between Albury, Shepparton, and Bairnsdale often until she met my Great Pop. They married and had 6 kids.  

I have a strong background in Indigenous youth leadership, community engagement, and have a genuine passion for promoting truth-telling and self-determination. Before joining KYC, I worked with ClothingTheGaps, as an impactor for the ClothingTheGaps Foundation, where I got to travel throughout the state to multiple types of settings and deliver culturally safe and aware sessions. While this was my main role, I got to experience both the retail and warehouse space learning about how fashion can create social change. I also am a part of the Strong Young Mob committee; a group of young mob focused on creating sustainable and long-term self-determination. Funded by VicHealth, we host grant rounds for mob promoting youth-led activities. 

I am super excited and super proud to be joining the awesome team at KYC as the community engagement officer and I have got some wonderful ideas in mind for the months to come. Especially regarding community events for young mob. 

Image: Djaambi Photography