Madeline Mitchell
Senior Social Worker, Jaghu Maternity & Infant Program
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Madeline Mitchell is an Aboriginal woman from the Kullillee people of Thargomindah in Western Queensland. She lives and works on Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul Country, near where her people were placed on Purga Mission, on the outskirts of Ipswich. Madeline is a mother, grandmother, wife, and Social Worker.
In 2002, as a single mother of three, she returned to school to demonstrate the importance of education to her children. What began as a goal to complete her high school certificate led to university studies, and today Madeline is proud that all three of her children are leaders in their chosen professions.
She is currently employed with Queensland Health as a Senior Social Worker in a maternity program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
SESSIONS
Day 2
12.10
Yarning Circles
Jaghu Maternity & Infant Program, helping First Nations babies to thrive: Join this yarn to hear about the success of the Jaghu program which incorporates First Nations ways of being and knowing to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and their babies.
Facilitator:
Madeline Mitchell, Senior Social Worker, Jaghu Maternity & Infant Program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Breaking Silent Codes of Sexual Violence in First Nations Communities: Yarn with Aunty Dixie Link-Gordon, Kowana Welsh and Yatungka Gordon as they discuss the Breaking Silent Codes movement and the importance of standing up and speaking out against sexual violence across Australia and the pacific.
Facilitators:
Dixie Link-Gordon, Aunty in Residence, Full Stop Australia and Women and Girls Emergency Centre
Kowana Welsh, Lived Experience Advocate; Board Member, Full Stop Australia; Senior Project Officer, Women and Girls Emergency Centre
Yatungka Gordon, Executive Officer, Breaking Silent Codes
Yarning for Change: Indigenous Trauma Informed responses to Violence: This culturally safe session is designed to empower and strengthen responses to domestic, family & sexual violence through, culturally safe, Indigenous trauma-informed training, community-centered approaches to supporting survivors and practical skills to enhance workforce capacity.
Facilitator:
Marnie Davis, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Learning and Development Lead, Women up North Housing
Day 1
11.50
Panel: Shifting Punitive Responses to Self-Determined Therapeutic Support for Children and Mothers
Approaching child and family care with a trauma informed lens
Ensuring genuine community engagement to foster self-determined solutions to child and family matters
Providing services that meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children
Moderator: Cindy Torrens, Chief Executive Officer, North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service
Jacynta Krakour, Aboriginal Enterprise Fellow, Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia; Honorary Senior Fellow, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne
Carly Stanley, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Deadly Connections
Madeline Mitchell, Senior Social Worker, Jaghu Maternity & Infant Program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Marg Sutherland, Early Childhood Development Consultant, Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre