2026 National Indigenous Community-Driven Changes in Tackling Family and Domestic Violence Conference

Yarraka Bayles is a proud First Nations woman with connections to the Wonnarua, Bundjalung, Birri Gubba and Gungalu peoples. Born and raised in Redfern, Sydney, she comes from a family deeply involved in Aboriginal activism, media and community advocacy.

Yarraka is an award-winning artist, media personality, cultural educator, social justice advocate and Senior Facilitator with BlackCard. She has more than 20 years of experience working across Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations in New South Wales and Queensland. Through BlackCard, she delivers cultural education and facilitates greater understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and histories.

Passionate about education and empowering future generations, Yarraka has delivered cultural workshops in schools and early learning centres and continues to share First Nations knowledge through her work, advocacy and community leadership. She also holds directorial roles with Indigenous organisations and runs Murri Menu, a food business celebrating culture and community.

Drawing on her lived experience, cultural knowledge and connection to community, Yarraka is a strong advocate for self-determination, social justice, cultural strength and positive change. Her work is grounded in empowering others, honouring her Elders and ancestors, and creating a more equitable and inclusive future for First Nations peoples.

Uncle Thomas Callaghan is a proud Koori man and descendant hailed from Biripi country (Taree) and Kempsey Dunghutti country in New South Wales. He grew up on Old Burnt Bridge Aboriginal Mission, just 8km west of Kempsey NSW and until his late teenage years. As a young adult, Tom returned to his grandmother's and family home traditional of the Biripi people where he lived on Purfleet Aboriginal Mission just 9Km South of Taree NSW. Today, he is the oldest living grandchild of Thomas Benjamin Callaghan, late of Bellbrook West of Kempsey and grandmother, Cinderella Callaghan (Richie) late of Purfleet south of Taree NSW. Over the years, Thomas established Aboriginal Medical Services, owned varied business enterprises, worked as professional fisherman, professional motorbike racer, Prime Minister Keating's team member and worked at UNHCR setting up refugee settlement camps across the Africas and the Middle East.

Felicia Djamirze is a qualified counsellor, award-winning businesswoman, and dedicated mental health advocate. As the founder and CEO of Neuro Vitality Pty Ltd and the Trauma Recovery Network, she is committed to championing the rights of women affected by trauma, violence, poverty, incarceration, and the justice system.

Djamirze is the author of the powerful true crime memoir Accessory, which offers a firsthand account of survival, post-traumatic growth, and rebuilding a life with purpose. She is a regular contributor to About Time Media and Women’s Agenda, using her platform to raise awareness of issues affecting individuals silenced by stigma, abuse, and discrimination.

Recognized as a trusted voice in the media and a sought-after public speaker, Djamirze has made significant contributions to women’s rights, trauma recovery, and justice reform. She spearheaded Australia’s first all-female, Indigenous-led nationwide study on trauma and adverse childhood experiences among individuals with a conviction history and developed the Growth-Focused Trauma Model—an innovative framework for practitioners working with complex trauma and PTSD.

Her work has a global reach, as she travels internationally to visit prisons, engage in research, and participate in cross-cultural knowledge sharing to advocate for trauma-informed reintegration and restorative justice practices.

With extensive experience supporting survivors of domestic and institutional violence, as well as criminalized and marginalized women, Djamirze remains committed to driving systemic change, challenging entrenched inequality, and empowering individuals to transform adversity into wisdom. Through her work, she continues to inspire others to recognize and share their unique potential in a meaningful and impactful way.

Proud mum of 3 and grandparent to 1, happy wife and a dedicated advocate for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. Born in Mozambique and raised in South Africa, immigrated to Australia in 2010. With over 27 years of experience as a registered nurse, Manuela worked within Queensland Health's correctional services, where she observed the harsh realities faced by women impacted by domestic violence. In 2012 founded her 1^st Charity that continued as Friends with Dignity from 2015, a national not-for-profit organization committed to assisting individuals impacted by trauma, abuse and displaced by domestic violence by providing essential resources and support.

Manuela leads with purpose, through compassionate action, community collaboration and unwavering advocacy. Drawing from her personal journey as a victim-survivor of assault and her professional experience in nursing and mental and addictions training, Manuela is committed to creating safe and supportive environments where every person feels seen, valued and safe.

Regan Mitchell is a proud Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal woman, raised in Community, Cowra, NSW.

Regan has extensive lived and professional experience as a front-line domestic violence specialist that includes providing long term, intensive, and culturally responsive casework support for women and children experiencing domestic violence and abuse. She draws on this experience to inform her approach to primary prevention Our Watch in her role as Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy.

Dr Rosemary Norman-Hill is a proud Darug woman, Doctor of Indigenous Philosophies and Aboriginal Social Scientist with nearly 30 years of experience across Indigenous child and family welfare, justice, government and community sectors. She has worked extensively in policy reform, cultural safety, community-led program design and systems change, with a strong focus on supporting Aboriginal children, young people and families.

Dr Norman-Hill is the founder and CEO of Kirrawe Indigenous Corporation, where she leads culturally grounded programs that strengthen families, cultural connection and community wellbeing. She has also held senior management and governance roles across the community sector and has served on national boards and advisory bodies. She was selected to represent Australia at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

Dr Norman-Hill holds a Doctor of Indigenous Philosophies from Southern Cross University. Her doctoral research focuses on reclaiming Darug history and Indigenous research methodologies, reflecting her commitment to truth-telling, cultural knowledge, self-determination and the wellbeing of Aboriginal communities.

Dr Shaymaa Elkadi is a governance and strategy leader with more than 15 years of executive and board experience across the justice, mental health, community services and multicultural sectors. She holds a PhD in Neuropsychology from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Public Administration and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Elkadi has held senior leadership positions with Corrections Victoria, Forensicare and other public and not-for-profit organisations. She has extensive expertise in systems reform, strategic leadership, service transformation, trauma-informed practice and cultural humility, with a strong commitment to justice, equity and human rights.

She currently serves in a number of governance and advisory roles, including as an Independent Board Director of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and as Deputy Chair of Victoria’s Multicultural Health Advisory Committee. She is also the founder of Ruqi Consulting, supporting organisations through strategic and values-driven change.

Aunty Erica Eurell is a Traditional Custodian from the Yugambeh Language Region of the Gold Coast, with ancestral ties to the Aboriginal people of Wollumbin (Mount Warning). Her work is deeply rooted in cultural connection, community engagement, and the transmission of knowledge.

With a strong passion for fostering understanding and respect for Aboriginal culture, Aunty Erica actively supports the growth of Indigenous artists and craftspeople. Her practice spans weaving, painting, language revival, and performance-based projects—each serving as a conduit for cultural exchange and empowerment.

Through these creative and community-led initiatives, she has cultivated a deep understanding of cultural protocols and the evolving needs of Indigenous youth. Her commitment to cultural continuity and intergenerational learning informs her ongoing contributions to community development and business growth.

Sophia Eurell is a 18-year-old Traditional Custodian from the Yugambeh region, descended from the Tweed River people and Wollumbin. A proud cultural ambassador, she has sung in Yugambeh language since age 8 as a leading member of the Yugambeh Youth Choir. Sophia has performed Welcome to Country ceremonies at major events, including the 2018 Commonwealth Games and with the Wallabies Rugby Union Team.

She graduated from Keebra Park High School as Indigenous School Captain, Valedictorian, and top student in English, Law, and Geography. Sophia is now enrolled at the University of Queensland to study criminal law, while working as a youth trainer at the Preston Campbell Café in Dreamworld—mentoring the next generation of Indigenous leaders.

Mark Robertson is the founder and director of One Vision Productions, a not‑for‑profit organisation based on Bundjalung Country in Byron Bay. For more than 17 years, he has led programs that combine music, film, and creative arts to support youth wellness and Indigenous education. Through One Vision, Mark has empowered over 12,000 isolated and at‑risk young people across Australia, providing evidence‑based mental health tools, mentoring services, and pathways to education and career opportunities. His work reflects a deep commitment to cultural safety, resilience, and the transformative power of creativity.

He is also the creator of MPOWER, an online personal empowerment toolkit designed to strengthen mental health and wellbeing. Developed in collaboration with high‑profile ambassadors such as Chris Hemsworth, Damon Gameau, and Baker Boy, MPOWER offers digital content that blends ancient wisdom with modern strategies for self‑growth. Mark’s leadership bridges grassroots community engagement with innovative digital platforms, making him a respected advocate for youth empowerment and Indigenous health.

Eric Brown is a descendant of the Dharawal, Bidjigal and Gundungurra people, a proud father to 5 boys, a social entrepreneur, adaptive athlete and dedicated advocate for Aboriginal young people in our communities. His vision is to build an integrated, culturally-led model of healing, mentoring, cultural connection and pathways for our young mob — one that not only supports young people but also nurtures a network of Aboriginal social enterprises creating change in their own communities.

Maria Callaghan is a nurse-midwife and a proud descendant of the Bol-anon tribe from her mother’s side and the mountain-dwelling Higaonon tribe from her father’s heritage. She completed her Australian Migration Law degree at Australian Catholic University. With over three centuries of Spanish rule and occupation of the Philippines, Maria knows too well the long-term effect of colonization the most devastating consequences for her people were the loss of cultural identity as her ancestors were chronically stripped of their unique traditions and languages from forced assimilation, coercion into adopting Spanish culture, Catholicism and cultural suppression that led to significant disconnect with their ancestral roots. The encomienda system, which granted Spanish colonizers control over Indigenous labour subjected her ancestors to brutal working conditions often without fair compensation and exploited their country's resources which continues to shape the social, economic, and cultural dynamics of the Philippines today. Maria has more than 20 years of experience in nursing and midwifery, health management, workforce development, event management, law and business. She’s passionate about building compassionate communities and has trained more than six hundred compassionate community connectors to date from Weipa in the Cape & Torres to Birtinya in Sunshine Coast where mobilised community connectors are making a difference and supporting families in communities one at a time.