Honouring culture and helping communities heal: Sue-Anne Hunter is a Woman of Yarra

Lady standing looking into camera in front of green grass and forest area, with blue sky

During March, to celebrate International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the women of Yarra, and sharing stories from exceptional women who live, work or volunteer in the City of Yarra.

Sue-Anne’s story

“I’m a proud Wurundjeri woman and I’m a mum, and I’m an advocate for the community.

As a community and individuals we need healing. We are left with the legacy of intergenerational trauma.

My role is to get people to understand what trauma is and how they can heal. I hold a space for people to facilitate their own healing – they do the work.

Originally when we locked down during COVID-19, everyone was ok. When it started to get longer, people reached out because were struggling.

My daughter Jedda and I created connecting to country meditations to help people. We put them online with some strategies around keeping connected to mind, body and spirit.

The pandemic really highlighted our struggles with mental health. Everyone was reaching out to each other and creating a community online.

I wanted to give back to the community, and I sort of fell into this work and I love what I do. Although there are some not-so-great parts, the highs are really high.

It’s about serving the community and making things better for the next generation, and that’s what I aim to do, and honouring culture in every way possible.”

About Sue-Anne Hunter

Sue-Anne runs an Aboriginal cultural consultancy providing cultural healing and therapy. She’s also the Sector Development Manager at SNAICC, the national non-governmental peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and the Co-Chair of the Family Matters Campaign, Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture.

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