Daa'ring Yarning - Voices from the Frontline

In the latest episode of Daa'ring Yarning, we ask the question - what does research actually do for our mob? Host Kerry Staines sits down with Professor Kyllie Cripps, a Palawa woman and Chief Investigator at CEVAW (the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women), to shed a light on this issue by bridging the gap between academic data and community reality. Kyllie shares her journey from a PhD student motivated by her own lived experiences to a leading researcher at Monash University. She challenges the traditional "extractive" model of research, advocating instead for a model built on reciprocity and deep relationship-building. Key highlights from this episode include: Why stats alone aren't enough to capture the true experiences of our people. How research can celebrate our self-determination and push back against negative media narratives. The importance of MOUs in ensuring communities own and control their own information. A moving story of how a simple whiteboard session with elders created a powerful tool for victims of violence. 

In our latest episode of Daa'ring Yarning, Kerry speaks with Sharelle Eggmolesse, CEO of Manngoor Dja Aboriginal Health Service (operating under the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health) about Aboriginal-led responses to family violence, community leadership, and culturally grounded healthcare. Manngoor Dja — meaning "place of doctors" in the Kabi Kabi language — delivers a hybrid brokerage model, partnering with mainstream providers to expand access to culturally safe, holistic care that spans physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. In this conversation, Sharelle reflects on: ✨ Why responses to family violence must be led by community ✨ Embedding cultural context and intergenerational trauma awareness in service design ✨ Supporting women, children and men through structured, trauma-informed approaches ✨ Programs like Hope and Healing, combining cultural practice with clinical oversight ✨ The importance of respectful partnerships and cultural protocol in mainstream collaboration A proud Torres Strait and South Sea Islander woman with strong ties to Kabi Kabi and Dyirbal Country, Sharelle shares her perspective on leadership that is grounded in community, accountability and self-determination. Learn more about their services: www.ncacch.org.au 

In this episode of Daa'ring Yarning, we sit down with Tyne McConnan, Principal Lawyer (Family and Child Safety) at SiS in Tasmania (SiSTas), to explore why early intervention and prevention are so critical in the legal sector. Tyne explains that the most effective legal support often happens before court dates are set or papers are served — reducing stress, minimising harm, and protecting families. Through genuine community engagement, SiSTas builds the trust needed for people to reach out early, before a crisis hits. In this episode, we discuss: ·       Why having a yarn with a lawyer early can change outcomes ·       How community presence builds trust and supports early intervention ·       Using lived experience to drive systemic change and specialist courts ·       Holistic support — including housing advocacy — to strengthen legal outcomes ·       A powerful story of a 7-year-old child who can now "sleep without being scared anymore" From advocating for safe housing to keeping mothers and babies together, SiSTas' work is about walking alongside community to create safety, stability, and lasting change.

This week, we're yarning with Charlie Rowe, GM of Aboriginal Family Legal Service Queensland and the brains behind the award-winning Bamba Mari men's program. Charlie shares how he gets men to show up (sometimes it involves chicken pasta salad!) and the practical tools he gives them to break the cycle of violence and trauma. From understanding "no contact" orders to learning how to bond with their kids, this is a must-listen episode about why wrap-around services are critical for men's behaviour change. 

In our latest episode of Daa'ring Yarning, we sit down with John Tonkin, CEO of the Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (FVLSAC) in South Australia. John shares his journey as a non-Indigenous leader in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO), along with the vital work being done to address family violence in South Australia. Throughout the episode, we talk in depth about: ·       The reality of allyship and walking gently. ·       The "daunting but exciting" expansion of services into Adelaide and the Southeast. ·       Why funding stability is critical for long-term change. FVLSAC is growing and looking for passionate solicitors to join their team. If you're ready for a sea change and meaningful work, tune in to find out more! Check out their website and Facebook page for more information and current vacancies: https://www.fvlsac.org.au/ https://www.facebook.com/FVLSAC  

In this episode, we meet up-and-coming leader and solicitor Ainsley Frost from Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland, who shares her powerful journey into law with our host Kerry Staines. Together, they explore the unique sisterhood of the Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS) sector and why supporting mob requires a holistic, wrap-around approach rather than just traditional legal work. Ainsley also shares her key takeaways from FNAAFV's recent Emerging Leaders Day, the importance of listening to elders, the role of culture and community connection in legal practice, and her vision for the future for the FVPLS sector.

Creating Safe Spaces for Women, Families and Culture In this episode of Daa'ring Yarning, host Kerry Staines sits down with Tosha Sambo, Deputy CEO of the Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (FVLSAC) in South Australia, to talk about the power of community-led healing through their Sista 2 Sista program. Born from a vision to bring Aboriginal women and families together in culturally safe spaces, Sista 2 Sista began in Port Lincoln before expanding to Ceduna, Whyalla, and Port Augusta. What started as a small initiative has grown into one of the organisation's signature annual events — celebrating women, culture, and connection. Learn more about the Sista 2 Sista program and the work of FVLSAC on their website and Facebook: https://www.fvlsac.org.au/ https://www.facebook.com/FVLSAC 

In our latest episode of Daa'ring Yarning, host Kerry Staines sits down with Rachael Hill, a proud Larrakia, Wangi, Gurindji, Arubunda, and Tiwi woman, whose story is a powerful reminder that passion for community and culture can build pathways to leadership. From her first role as a receptionist at the North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service (NAFLS) to becoming the organisation's Cultural and Engagement Lead, Rachael's journey shows the value of persistence, mentorship, and staying grounded in culture. Her career has taken her across the Northern Territory — from supporting families on Country to representing her community at national levels. But through it all, she remains focused on one thing: ensuring Aboriginal clients are at the centre of every service and decision.

In this episode of Daa'ring Yarning – Voices from the Frontline, host Kerry sits down with Thelma Schwartz, Executive Director of Legal at the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS), to unpack QIFVLS's cultural participation program, which was co-designed with the Queensland Police Service, to help build cultural capability and understanding in responses to family violence. Kerry and Thelma also yarn about her connection to culture, with Thelma sharing her deep cultural lineage connecting Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and the Torres Strait, and how her heritage shapes her leadership and advocacy. In her closing reflections, Thelma speaks about the importance of walking in two worlds — maintaining her cultural identity while navigating the legal system. "For a long time, I felt pressure to hide my culture. I thought I had to fit the mould — like the lawyers I saw on TV. But pretending made me miserable. I've learned that culture is my strength. It's what connects me to people, to purpose, to Country." She now encourages young First Nations professionals to embrace who they are and to lead with cultural integrity. "Don't suppress who you are. Your culture is your strength. It's what will carry you through."