Respected Elder and proud Wurundjeri woman who has served her community through her work in hostels, housing and justice.
For over 30 years Pat has also played a major role with the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria, (now Aboriginal Housing Victoria) serving on its board and various committees and assisting with policy matters.
Pat is currently Public Officer of the Aboriginal Community Elders Services (ACES), an organisation committed to maintaining services for elderly members of the community. It is important to Pat that ‘the sick and elderly are warm and happy and well cared for’ and she encourages young members of the community to visit and engage with their Elders. Pat is a Senior Elder and Life Member of the Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council.
Now in her seventies, Pat’s passion and commitment for her community is undiminished. She continues to work tirelessly for fairness and justice and provides inspiration for all.
A Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman who has been employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency since 1999. From 1998 to 2008 Muriel chaired the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the peak Australian agency for Indigenous child and family services and was re-appointed as Chair in 2018.
Muriel is active on many boards and committees concerning children, families and the Indigenous community, including the Aboriginal Children’s Forum; the Dhelk Dja Family Violence Partnership Forum, the Aboriginal Justice Forum, the Treaty Assembly and the Aboriginal Community Elders Service.
Muriel’s contribution to her community and Victoria has been recognised in many awards. In 2019 Muriel was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to the Indigenous community in Victoria as an advocate for the self determination and cultural rights of children. Muriel has been inducted into the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll and the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
A Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta/Bangerang man, Lionel has been involved in Koorie education for 30+ years. He is the General Manager of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) and was first appointed in 1985.
Lionel has seen VAEAI established as the peak body for Koorie education and training in Victoria, and as an equal partner with the Victorian Government in Koorie education and training since 1990. He has also overseen the development of the successful Wurreker strategy which formalised the equal partnership with the vocational education and training sector in Victoria.
Lionel has provided advice to successive governments in Victoria on measures to improve education and training opportunities for Koorie people. He has played a prominent role in promoting Indigenous education and training issues at a local, State and National level.
He was a member of the National Aboriginal Reference Group which played a key role in the development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (AEP) in 1989, which is still current today.
