The 2022 Connexions conference will be held on Monday 28th November at University of Newcastle – Ourimbah Campus
2019 Connexions Conference highlights
Delia brings with her extensive experience in non-government and social services settings across Australia and the United Kingdom. She has 21 years’ experience in social work and social care settings spending the last 11 years in the domestic and family violence sector. Delia has led two domestic violence organisations as CEO: The Dash Charity (Domestic Abuse Stops Here) set in the UK and more recently White Ribbon Australia. Delia was appointed as Chair of Prosper Australia in 2016 and is deeply passionate about their work to support disadvantaged children and families across NSW at home, in school and across the community. Delia has been recognized and awarded for her work in both the UK and Australia receiving several awards for her work to innovate and effect change.
Jess Hill is a Walkley-award winning investigative journalist who’s been reporting on domestic abuse for several years. Prior to this, she was a Middle East correspondent, and worked as both a producer and reporter for various programs across the ABC, including AM, PM, The World Today, and Background Briefing. In 2019, she published her first book, See What You Made Me Do, about the phenomenon of domestic abuse in Australia. It was awarded the 2020 Stella Prize, has been shortlisted for several others, including the Walkley Book Award and the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, and has been adapted into a television series for SBS. Currently, Jess is working on an audio documentary series called ‘The Trap’ with the Victorian Women’s Trust, which will be released in August.
Devon Cuimara Founder & CEO of Aboriginal Males Healing Centre Strong Spirit Strong Families Strong Culture Inc (AMHC). My people are the First Nation People of the Southwest of Western Australia (WA). My matrilineal kin groups are Manitjimat (white cockatoo) and Wardongmat (crow). ‘Mat ‘means ‘stock, family, leg’. My Moort (Family) are the Juat, Wadjuk, Pibilman, Njunga – Nyungar mob and Badimaya, Wudjari mob of the Southern Yamatji group.
I’m the son of a father who is the son of a father (my grandfather). Three generations have used violence. If I didn’t stop, my sons would have been the fourth generation. In my family, most men use violence. Most Aboriginal men I know are abusive. I have been aggressive. However, I was not born violent. I learned aggression. The abuse was normal growing up. Living with abusive behaviour in my family was like a repetitive monologue. I have faced abuse all my life, including racial abuse.
