Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Committee

Regan Mitchell, Domestic Violence Program Manager and Prevention Specialist, Weave Youth & Community Services. Regan is a proud Wiradjuri / Ngunnawal woman born and raised in Cowra NSW. As Weave’s Domestic Violence Program Manager and Prevention Specialist, Regan leads the Domestic Violence Program (DVP) to advocate for and support women and children experiencing domestic and family violence and abuse. This role involves both working on the frontline alongside the DVP team as well as working closely with the leadership team and across the organisation to educate and empower our staff and communities to be involved in ending gender based violence. Regan is a fierce advocate for prevention, attitudinal and systemic change around domestic and family violence and abuse. She is recognised in the sector and community as a strong source of knowledge and expertise and as someone who doesn’t shy away from hard conversations. Regan is also the Chairperson of Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre in Sydney, an Executive Member of the Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network (AWAN) and a member of the DVNSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Steering Committee.

Ashlee Donohue is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Dunghutti nation, born and raised in Kempsey, NSW. A highly sought after facilitator, speaker and powerful advocate for the anti-violence message. Ashlee has written and co-created numerous anti-violence campaigns. Presented at the United Nations in NYC. Self-Published her memoir titled ‘Because I love him’ a personal account of love, motherhood, domestic violence and survival. Currently, Ashlee is the CEO of Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Corporation-Women’s Centre. She also sits on the ‘Our Watch’ Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Board, City of Sydney’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory panel and is Chairperson of Warringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Service.

Maryanne is a proud Wailwan/Kamileroi and Gumbainggir woman who grew up in Inverell NSW. She is second generation of the Stolen Generation as her mother was also stolen. Maryanne is a case worker supporting women escaping domestic violence at the Lismore Women’s and Children’s Refuge. Prior to this, Maryanne was the Aboriginal Specialist Worker with DVCAS for eight years which involved providing court advocacy and community development where she delivered domestic violence education and awareness raising initiatives. Maryanne sits on the LGBTIQ Aboriginal Domestic Violence Board which helps to fulfil her passion to improve the education and visibility of the minority groups represented on behalf of this board. Maryanne has played a role in modifying publicly available resources to make them more relatable to Aboriginal people which ensures their inclusion and visibility within issues that are important to communities as a whole. Maryanne is very driven to raise awareness and continues to be a voice for marginalized peoples in equality, fairness and visibility.

Bio Coming Soon

Mary Ronayne is the Community and Culture Manager of the Wilcannia Woman and Children Safe House. Mary derives from the Kamilaroi nation. She has managed the Wilcannia Safe House (WSH) since 2013 and is part of the DVSM Leadership Team. Over the last 20 years Mary has worked in a range of coordination and management positions within the Domestic and Family Violence sector in rural NSW. Her focus has always been to support women and children to realise their potential and help them understand that they are important and can reach their dreams. She has a wealth of experience working with Aboriginal women and is aware of the complexities and disadvantage that comes with being an Aboriginal person. As such she is concerned with improving the wellbeing of Aboriginal women and children, families and communities. Through Mary’s expertise in listening to others, building relationships and connections with people and supporting people to come together and understand each other’s view point to reach a common goal, Mary won the Central Darling Shire 2019 Australia Day award for “Event of the year” for the 2018 Dream Big Fashion parade. This program was developed to raise self-esteem, self-worth and self-respect of children living in rural and remote community of Wilcannia NSW. Mary is passionate about seeing people’s lives change for the better.

Bronwyn Penrith is a widely respected Aboriginal Woman who has a lifelong commitment and engagement with her Community. She holds the Family responsibilities of a Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, and is a recognised kinship Carer. She is a recognised Elder by her Community. As well as her Position as Senior Director Burbangana Group a private consulting company and a member of Supply Nation. She is Chairperson of Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women Centre in Chippendale and a Director of the Redfern Foundation Ltd. She is also a past member of Women representatives on local, state and National levels. And is a current member of the City of Sydney Aboriginal Advisory Panel. Bronwyn is a trained facilitator experienced in Community education workshops, cultural awareness and Mentor and a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, of long standing, with the Australian Government Department of the Attorney General. And on the NSW legal aid Mediators Panel, in family law and including Care & Protection Mediation. In addition to the former work experience Bronwyn is an advocate of lifelong learning and has qualifications in area that include Indigenous Governance and – Mentoring through Diversity; Project Management and can include Trauma Informed Care work. Much of her work is in a voluntary capacity and She has recently been recognised for her voluntary delivery of series of Lateral Violence Workshops at the Women Centre. Bronwyn is the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women Alliance NSW representative. Natsiwa have identified Gendered Violence, Aboriginal Women in Business as priorities and issues impacting on Aboriginal Women and our Communities. A Board member of Womens Legal Resources NSW And also member of the NSW Women Legal Resource Centre Aboriginal Women Consultative Network. In June, 2016, Bronwyn fulfilled the role of Elder of the “Building Better Lives for Ourselves’. Conference of 100 A&TSI Women bought together by PM&C . She is on a journey of Reclaiming Culture, and is a Student of Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Nation Building at Charles Sturt University. Through language, and Cultural Practice, last year Bronwyn led the Making of a Possum Skin Cloak at Mudgin-gal Women Centre the first sewn by local community Aboriginal Women hands in 200 years. Through Mudgin-gal Bronwyn initiated an invitation for Aboriginal women to reclaim their Corroroboree and Ceremony This preparation for Ceremony to which over 60 Women responded, from Grandmothers and daughter and granddaughter and great Grandaughters Furthermore, Bronwyn is deeply connected to Country, and recently, travelled to her home Country, to witness the first Traditional Burn of Country in that area since the coming of the Whites population to the Brungle Valley. She is an avid reader and likes to stay up to date with current politics.

Bio coming soon