Aboriginal torres strait islander Advisory Group
SAMSN’s Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group (SATSIAG) provides direction and cultural understandings to SAMSN in the development and running of its programs, and across its operations providing services to male survivors and their families and supporters.
Members of the SATSIAG bring knowledge, lived experience and expertise to SAMSN.
As a proud son of Goreng Goreng woman Norma Broome and Italian father Pantaleone Sarra, Grant has spent over 40 years working hands on with clients from many different urban, rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Stemming from his own lived experiences, Grant is able to facilitate conversations, educate and raise awareness of not only the past but the relevance history plays in our present.
With past roles in Government and private agencies, Grant gained experience working with and within policies and procedures. It was this experience that allowed Grant to extend his knowledge and experience into his own Consultancy business.
Marlene is a Wiradjuri/Ngunnawal woman who has had extensive experience working with Aboriginal communities providing support, counselling, advocacy and group work. Marlene has specialised skills and knowledge in competency-based training, supervision and workforce development in the areas of trauma, healing, family violence, sexual assault and child protection.
Rowena Lawrie is an Aboriginal woman, who had been working in the field of trauma, human rights, law and justice for over 25 years. With a background in Social Work, she has developed a service – Yamurrah – that are innovative and creative as well as professional and trauma-informed, that made a real difference in people’s lives, both personally and professionally.
Yamurrah’s services are unique in that it holds an Aboriginal worldview and Aboriginal healing frameworks that balance with professional codes such as social work, psychology and law.
Phil is an Aboriginal man descended from the Bunganditj, Gunditjmara and Narungga peoples in Victoria and South Australian regions. Phil has worked as a Barrister and Solicitor, and Consultant Legal Advisor, over many decades. His focus has been on improving justice and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people across Australia. These include representing and advocating for Aboriginal people in organisations such as Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, Aboriginal Community Services, National Disability Insurance Agency and Justice & Reintegration Programs.
Phil lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
Ashleigh is a Barkindji woman with strong ties to the Wiradjuri nation. Ashleigh is a Sexual Assault Counsellor in Bourke NSW and really appreciates survivors allowing her to walk with them on their healing journey. Ashleigh has extensive knowledge and experience working in rural and remote settings and feels very privileged to be able provide culturally responsive counselling to her community. Ashleigh’s background is in Mental Health having completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) and worked as Mental Health Clinician also in Bourke.
Grant Sarra
As a proud son of Goreng Goreng woman Norma Broome and Italian father Pantaleone Sarra, Grant has spent over 40 years working hands on with clients from many different urban, rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Stemming from his own lived experiences, Grant is able to facilitate conversations, educate and raise awareness of not only the past but the relevance history plays in our present.
With past roles in Government and private agencies, Grant gained experience working with and within policies and procedures. It was this experience that allowed Grant to extend his knowledge and experience into his own Consultancy business.
Marlene Lauw
Marlene is a Wiradjuri/Ngunnawal woman who has had extensive experience working with Aboriginal communities providing support, counselling, advocacy and group work.
Marlene has specialised skills and knowledge in competency-based training, supervision and workforce development in the areas of trauma, healing, family violence, sexual assault and child protection.
Rowena Lawrie
Rowena Lawrie is an Aboriginal woman, who had been working in the field of trauma, human rights, law and justice for over 25 years. With a background in Social Work, she has developed a service – Yamurrah – that are innovative and creative as well as professional and trauma-informed, that made a real difference in people’s lives, both personally and professionally.
Yamurrah’s services are unique in that it holds an Aboriginal worldview and Aboriginal healing frameworks that balance with professional codes such as social work, psychology and law.
Phil Saunders
Phil is an Aboriginal man descended from the Bunganditj, Gunditjmara and Narungga peoples in Victoria and South Australian regions. Phil has worked as a Barrister and Solicitor, and Consultant Legal Advisor, over many decades.
His focus has been on improving justice and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people across Australia. These include, representing and advocating for Aboriginal people in organisations such as Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, Aboriginal Community Services, National Disability Insurance Agency and Justice & Reintegration Programs.
Phil lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
Ashleigh Hull
Ashleigh is a Barkindji woman with strong ties to the Wiradjuri nation.
Ashleigh is a Sexual Assault Counsellor in Bourke NSW and really appreciates survivors allowing her to walk with them on their healing journey. Ashleigh has extensive knowledge and experience working in rural and remote settings and feels very privileged to be able provide culturally responsive counselling to her community.
Ashleigh’s background is in Mental Health having completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) and worked as Mental Health Clinician also in Bourke.
SAMSN acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work. We pay our respect to Past, Present and Future Elders.