Indigenous Advisory Group

The Indigenous Advisory Group (IAG) provides advice to the Library Board of Queensland on policy and strategic issues concerning library and information service provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Grace Sarra | Max Lenoy | Janette Wright | Michelle Tyhuis | Yvette Holt | Nancy Dorothy Bamaga | Geraldine Carter | Tracey Pickwick | Joann Schmider | Bridget Ann Garay | Matthew James | Rose Elu | Kerry Charlton

Chairperson

Grace Sarra

Grace Sarra is presently a Senior Lecturer and a researcher within the YuMi Deadly Centre at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Born and raised in Townsville, Dr Sarra is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. She has been teaching in schools and universities for over 20 years. She completed her Doctor of Creative Industries at QUT. Her interest is in the area of Indigenous education with a particular focus on school change and leadership, social justice and inclusive education.

Dr Sarra is the Chair of the Indigenous Advisory group, State Library of Queensland; a member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee for the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER); a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory group for the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA); a member of the equity committee at the Queensland University of Technology; and a researcher in the YuMi Deadly Centre at the Queensland University of Technology.

Members

Max Lenoy

Max Lenoy holds an Education Masters from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Education, James Cook University of North Queensland.

He is an Education technology and Indigenous education lecturer and at the School of Education, James Cook University.

Mr Lenoy is a member of the Queensland Indigenous Arts and Marketing Export Agency Advisory Committee; Editorial Board Member, Journal of Indigenous Issues and an Editorial Committee Member, Journal of Indigenous Policy. He was formerly a member of the Queensland Government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council.

Mr Lenoy is currently residing in Townsville; his family are from Yarrabah and Palm Island.

Janette Wright

Janette Wright is the State Library of Queensland's Chief Executive Officer and State Librarian, and is responsible for the proper and sound management of the State Library, under the authority of the Library Board of Queensland.

The Chief Executive Officer provides strategic advice and direction to the Library Board; plans and develops new initiatives, services and programs; manages the resources of the State Library; and initiates strategic partnerships.

Michelle Tyhuis

Michelle identifies as a Torres Strait Islander woman from Darnley Island (Erub) in the Torres Strait.  Michelle completed a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at the Queensland University of Technology in 2001, and went on to specialise in Indigenous media broadcasting, print and accredited training/assessing, by working in a variety of roles with Brisbane Indigenous Media Association over 8 years.  During this time, Michelle worked as radio presenter, producer, copywriter, trainer and mentor, graphic and publications designer, training centre manager and finally communications manager overseeing and managing a wide variety of government-funded Indigenous multimedia projects for remote and regional communities across Queensland.

In 2001 Michelle was awarded National NAIDOC Apprentice of the Year and was shortlisted as Young Indigenous Journalist of the Year in the National Youth Media Awards.  Most recently in 2009 she was also nationally awarded the Yvonne Cohen Award for Creative Indigenous Youth by the Victorian College of Arts, Wilin Centre.  Today she works as a multimedia researcher and designer at Indigenous television production company Carbon Media in Brisbane and freelances occasionally as a journalist and graphic designer.

Yvette Holt

Brisbane-born, academic, feminist and multi-award winning national poet, Yvette Holt heralds from the Bidjara Nation (paternal) and Wakaman Nation (Atherton Tablelands) and Yiman People (maternal) of central-western Queensland and south-western Queensland respectively.  Yvette has worked and researched across many disciplines including; Indigenous women's leadership, national facilitation of Indigenous literary development (Fred Hollows), researching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander literature (AustLit UQ), Aboriginal Women's Studies (UQ), Indigenous cultural studies (ACU) and is currently the Unit Coordinator and Lecturer for Indigenous Creative Writing at the Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education (ACIKE). 

Nancy Dorothy Bamaga

Nancy Bamaga is a Torres Strait Islander woman a descendant from Saibai Island.  Nancy has over 20 years extensive working experiences in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community cultural development areas and the retailing of Indigenous art and craft. She has been involved in the arts industry since 1992, and has been instrumental in the arts industry development in Queensland with an unwavering commitment to promoting and empowering local Indigenous artists both established and emerging as well as enabling them to access opportunities that will lead to further employment and transferable skills in the wider mainstream arts industry. 

Nancy has managed and currated numerous Indigenous exhibitions and projects and was the first to exhibit the Lockhart River Art Gang. She was involved in the development of well known Queensland international and local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists such as Richard Bell, Dennis Nona, Rosella Namok. Through her business Black Drum Production Nancy has delivered many projects for local government and community organisations. 

Due to her vast experience in Indigenous arts and community development Nancy has served on various consultative committees throughout south-east Queensland, state regional and national.  She is a past member of the National Arts Reference Group to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board of Australia Arts Council.  Nancy's community service and leadership includes roles on the Board of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Legal and Advocacy Service. The Steering Committee for the National Indigenous Arts Cultural Authority; Regional Arts Council Reference Group, and is a director of Nguin Warrup LTD.
 
Nancy provided consultation services to clients in sectors including, private sector, and not-for-profit sector across industries such as Indigenous arts and tourism, education, arts, local and state government. The wealth of her experience has contributed to social change through consultation and advisory capacity.

Geraldine Carter

I am a Baiellie woman, my matrilineal land being Gladstone, Tannum Sands, Bourne Island and Port Curtis Island.  I have been living in Keppel Sands since April 2011.  I have three (3) children and six (6) grandchildren.  I was born and raised in Rockhampton leaving home when I turned 17 to become a trained nurse and then doing Midwifery.  I had also qualified in Karatine nursing, continuing my diverse fields of nursing throughout Queensland, at Emerald, Mackay, Mt Isa and Cairns.

I married at the age of 25, in Sydney NSW, where I was doing cancer research.  Starting a family we moved to Canberra ACT to live.  I was employed by the ACT Health Authority, which it was known at the time, not being compatible with family and shift work, I entered the Public Service.

I was employed by the Department of Industry Science and Tourism, which it was known at the time, for 40 years.  During this time I researched the GST, seconded to Aboriginal Hostels, Aboriginal Health on the Secretariat, and Intellectual Property Rights for Indigenous Peoples of Australia.

Entering Australian National University 1990 as an undergraduate under the AUSA Award, I graduated September 1994, majoring in Anthropology and Archaeology.  My minors being Australian Pre-History and History, continuing to study and research the Bio-Anthropology of the Australian Aborigines.

I returned to the Department, resigning in 1997 to commence post-graduate studies to become a teacher at the University of Canberra whereby I taught in a number of schools both public and private.  I taught SOSE and English to middle-school and college (7 to 12).  I did relief lecturing at the University of Canberra.

Moving to Tasmania 2003, I taught at the public schools in St Helens and St Marys, and tutoring in English Literature and Study Skills at the University of Tasmania in Launceston.  The past three years I was employed by the Department of Health and Communities as a Child Protection Officer in Tasmania.

Tracey Pickwick

Tracey is a local Brisbane Aboriginal community person whom commenced her first job at the Aboriginal and Islander Community Health Service in the late 1980s as a Receptionist and stayed for 7 years then worked at other Aboriginal community organisations until 2003.

"I am the youngest of 6 children, with 2 very proud Aboriginal parents, my father's mob is from Goreng Goreng in Bundaberg and Mother is from Mununjali in Beaudesert, my Mother's father is South Sea Islander Kanakas from Fingal in New South Wales."

Ms Pickwick works as the Senior Indigenous Relations Officer at Arrow Energy.  Arrow Energy is a leading coal seam gas company with 5 domestic gas supply operations and is in the process of implementing their Indigenous Relations Action Plan.  Ms Pickwick has nearly 10 years in the area of Indigenous employment and training development for a range of non-Government and employment networks.  "I am always passionate about moving my people forward by helping and supporting them through providing assistance towards employment which creates diversity and equality in the workplace."  

"I possess a Bachelor of Leisure Management from Griffith University in 2003 and I am studying a Masters in Management. I was a previous Board member of Gundala Kindergarten Association for the last 2 years."

Joann Schmider

Joann is a rainforest Aboriginal woman of the Mamu people; she grew up in Mt Isa and came from Canberra to Cairns in 2005.  With 30 years' in State and Commonwealth Government agencies and Indigenous consultative and community organisations, Joann's background traverses education and training, heritage and culture, human rights and social justice, social and economic policy, cultural and natural resource management, and community capacity development; and she works as a consultant through ComUnity ACETs Pty Ltd.  Joann's passion is promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and interests as central weave in the shared heritage and futures of our local, regional, state and national Australian society.

Bridget Ann Garay

Bridget Garay is a Torres Strait Islander woman who has family connections to Mer (Murray Island).  She is a highly motivated woman who leads a busy life as a business trainer and coach.  Bridget is currently working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia with a particular emphasis on micro business and community enterprise.

Bridget has extensive experience in the Arts industry spanning 15 years and is well respected as an arts worker.   This is complimented with her highly developed facilitation, mentoring and coaching skills.

Through her passion and commitment to building cultural, creative and economic capacity she has assisted many Indigenous Communities on a local, national and international level. Bridget has a vast depth of knowledge of business across a broad range of industries which is apparent when she is delivering workshops and conferences.  Her practical experience in her own business gives her great credibility amongst her clients and puts them at ease and makes the transition into business less threatening.

Bridget is currently operating her own business called "Journey Forward" continuing to deliver programs to inspire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to participate in community leadership, sustainable employment and also create their own economic independence through enterprise.

Matthew James

Matthew James holds a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice from Griffith University, and is currently studying for a Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University.

Mr James is a foundation member of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland Incorporated.
Mr James is a Thursday Islander, and is interested in pursuing a career which plays an active role in addressing the over-representation of Indigenous people within the criminal justice system.

Rose Elu

I am a Torres Strait Islander born on the top Western Islands of the Torres Straits called Saibai. I am from Saibai Koedal Clan (Crocodile) from father side and Thabu (Snake) clan from mother side. I spent most of my childhood at Seisia on the tip of Australia, did my higher school certificate in Melbourne and Academic studies at UQ, and since lived here for 27 years in Brisbane. Being a Public servant for 20 years with the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Development, Department of Family Services and currently employed with the "Relationships Australia Qld".

Committee member of various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisations and the Torres Strait Islander Non- Geographic Parish.  Also participants of the various overseas academic institutions as public speaker on various Indigenous issues.

Kerry Charlton

Ms Charlton is a Koenpal, Undanbi, Yuggera gaja-goori (senior Aboriginal) person whose primary traditional country includes Normanton/Norman River, Quandamooka, Stradbroke and bayside islands, adjacent costal mainland up to Nambour and inland to Yuggera country, Brisbane and surrounding areas.  Kerry's language groups are Jandaivwal and Yuggera and 'Yuri' (meat totem) being carpet snake and goanna which form part of the goori ancient land and animal conservation systems.  Through her father Kerry's connections to country include Ireland, Scotland and northern Britain.

As a highly regarded Indigenous consultant, educator and facilitator, Kerry has extensive experience encompassing cultural knowledge, practice and protocols; cultural sharing and cross-cultural mentoring; teaching/training; community/organisation/strategic development; healing/well-being; leadership support and mentoring; emerging systems/communities; spirituality; Reconciliation; Indigenous social justice and research; pastoral care/ecumenical ministry.

Kerry has participated on numerous multi-level Committees and is currently a member of the Forde Foundation Board of Advice and the appointed National Director of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission, National Council of Churches Australia.

Observers

• Nadine McDonald-Dowd, Executive Manager, Indigenous Services/kuril dhagun, State Library of Queensland

Terms of Reference

Terms of reference [PDF 210 kb] are available for download.