We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Madeline is a proud Trawlwoolway, Plangermaireener (Palawa), Mutti Mutti, Wadi Wadi, Wemba Wemba, and Wotjobaluk (Koorie) Aboriginal woman.
Madeline has learnt different ways to advocate, organise and stand in solidarity with different people across the world and Australia through her experiences as volunteer and staff member at SEED Indigenous Youth Climate Coalition, as a 2018 Young Leader with Women Deliver, where she attended and spoke at their global conference in 2019.
She’s represented Australia with Amnesty International, joining their Global Youth Task Force in 2019 and participating in a Youth Forum at the United Nations in Switzerland in 2016, within her community in Lutruwita/Tasmania and Victoria through discussions and events regarding Treaty, Truth-Telling, Deaths in Custody and Youth in detention, Protecting Country and water, wellbeing and healing, and Solidarity with Palestine.
She works as a Programs Officer at Culture is Life and has been there since May 2023. Her experience has been working with children and young people through education and youth programs, the arts, advocacy and activism, working with native animals, mentoring program with Firesticks Alliance in Lutruwita, research and writing.
Social and emotional wellbeing for Aboriginal people is a passion area for Madeline as she understands the importance of amplifying the teachings, knowledge and work that has been translated from cultural healing practices, collective wellness and culture as a protective factor. Her dreams for the future is for her communities to a proud, well, self determined people, with truth and justice at the forefront on the road to liberation.
To continue in making sure Country and our people are well connected, speaking our languages and having a strong sense of belonging and love. For love is our most sacred and powerful value and the deep connection to Country we have had since always.
Rona is a proud Kaytetye woman from Central Australia who works with high impact organisations to create systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and solutions.
Rona is the founder of Common Ground and brings 7 years
of professional experience working across First Nations organisations and not for profits. Rona was previously the Director of First Nations at YLab, a social enterprise that puts young people with diverse lived experiences at the centre of designing and developing innovative and impactful solutions
to complex social issues. Over her career, Rona has worked in policy at the Central Land Council, the Research Unit for Indigenous Languages at the University of Melbourne, Reconciliation Victoria, and the Foundation for Young Australians.In 2020, Rona was a finalist for the Victorian Young Achiever awards, was awarded a Westpac Social Change Fellowship. In 2019 Rona won a Diana Award and was named a 'Woman of the Future' by Women's Weekly.Through her work with First Nations communities across Australia, Rona aims to create future systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and cultures.Rona currently resides in Mpartnwe on Arrernte Country.
We are a First Nations not-for-profit that exists to centre First Nations people, Country and truth-telling. We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
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