The Gaawaadhi Gadudha logo artwork is by Laurance Magick Dennis. It represents the meeting of fresh (Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay) and salt (Yuin-Djirringanj) water. The horseshoe-like shapes are people sitting around a fire. The oval image at the centre is a coolamon (traditional carrying vessel). The dots around the image are ancestors looking on.

While we use the word ‘Aboriginal’ to explain the terminology of ‘the health gap’ in current research and policy, we would like to acknowledge it as a colonised term. We advocate for shifting to the use of cultural group names as identifiers. Where this is not possible, we use ‘Indigenous’.

How We Work

Image: Cultural knowledge holder Ted Fields at Dharriwaa, Narran Lakes (photo by Brooke Brady)

Cultural governance

The Gaawaadhi Gadudha Research Collaborative is a culturally governed initiative. Our governance recognises place-based Knowledge Holders as leaders in their nation and language groups. It also ensures cultural law and ways of governing underpin our research at every stage.

Cultural Knowledge Holders lead the Collaborative, making all major research decisions. Cultural Knowledge Holders are also Chief Investigators on our grants. Knowledge Holders are supported by other members of the research team, who contribute their academic expertise across a variety of disciplines.

Image: Dhinawan (emu) footprint at Dharriwaa, Narran Lakes (photo by Brooke Brady)

Meet our Gaawaadhi Gadudha Cultural Governance Group

Ted Fields

Ted is a Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay man born and raised in Walgett, NSW. Ted’s language and culture have been in his life from its earliest moments. Ted has worked to promote Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages and cultures for over 25 years. He has supported cultural heritage management for over 20 years. Ted has worked as an advisor with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Land and Water Conservation, as well as on various native vegetation and water reform projects. Ted is an expert in bringing Aboriginal cultural values to policy reform. He has been an active member of Walgett Local Aboriginal Lands Council (WLALC) for 30 years and member of two other lands councils.

Ted has contributed to numerous research projects, including the Next Generation Aboriginal Youth and Wellbeing Study. Alongside his partner Michelle, Ted is the Director of Burruguu Limited, a non-for-profit organisation that supports individuals and communities through cultural connection. Ted was a Chief Investigator on our study exploring cultural camp impact on health and wellbeing (MRF2009522).

Ted is the Yuwaalaraay Cultural Knowledge Holder and Chief Investigator on all Gaawaadhi Gadudha projects. Ted leads our programs, directs how we interpret data and makes key decisions about the overall path of Gaawaadhi Gadudha.
www.burruguu.org

Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay

Michelle O’Leary

Michelle is a proud Gamilaraay wirringaa (woman) born and raised on Gamilaraay country in Tamworth, NSW. She is descended from the Natty and Red Chief clans. Her ties to her people run deep and she has begun her role a cultural leader in her family and community. For the past eight years, Michelle has worked alongside her partner Ted on cultural land and resource education and management. She is expert at hosting events that connect school groups, Elders, women and young people in the out-of-home care system with traditional culture. As a cultural knowledge holder on our project exploring the impact of camps on health and wellbeing (MRF2009522), Michelle collected complex data and guided its interpretation. She provides invaluable cultural and practical insight to all aspects of our work.

Michelle is the Gamilaraay Cultural Knowledge Holder and Chief Investigator on the Gaawaadhi Gadudha project trialling a cultural health program (MRF2025330). Michelle leads our programs, directs how we interpret data and makes key decisions about the overall path of Gaawaadhi Gadudha.
www.burruguu.org

Gamilaraay

Warren Foster

Warren is a respected Yuin-Djirringanj cultural knowledge holder, dancer, songman and artist born and raised on Djirringanj Country at Wallaga Lake, NSW, which is part of the Yuin Nation. He is lead Director at Tjuringal Limited, a Yuin owned and operated not for profit that supports healing through connection to culture on Djirringanj Country. He is also the Director of the annual Yuin Nation Birriga Bunaan, the largest Aboriginal cultural dance event in NSW. His parents were Aboriginal cultural leaders and activists. As one of few surviving Yuin-Djirringanj cultural knowledge and language holders, Warren holds responsibility to ensure culture is carried on by the next generation. In 1995, Warren established the Gulaga Dancers, a Yuin traditional dance group, to empower young Aboriginal men through cultural expression, identity and pride. The Gulaga Dancers perform nationally and internationally, including in Japan, Finland and New Zealand. Warren leads a Cultural Burning Program at Merrimans Local Aboriginal Lands Council. He has previously worked in various roles for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, caring for important cultural heritage sites and delivering educational workshops on traditional foods and native animals.

Warren is the Yuin-Djirringanj Cultural Knowledge Holder and Chief Investigator on the Gaawaadhi Gadudha project trialling a cultural health program (MRF2025330). Warren leads our programs, directs how we interpret data and makes key decisions about the overall path of Gaawaadhi Gadudha.

www.tjuringal.org

Yuin