your

NATSICC is a National body that has a Councillor in every State and Territory. Each Councillor does their best to represent their State or Territory on NATSICC and to the Bishops of the Catholic Church in Australia.

To find your local councillor, simply click on your state below and you will be taken to the relevant page. Each State / Territory page has Councillor information, Indigenous Catholic Statistics, local Aboriginal Catholic Ministries or Aboriginal and Islander Councils and relevant links.

Queensland / Chairperson:

Profile: Thelma Gertz

An Aboriginal woman from Wangkamana/Warluarra and Kalkadoon clan group, born in Cloncurry and lived the majority of her earlier life in the western Queensland region.

Thelma is currently the Co-ordinator for Indigenous Education at the Catholic Education Office, Townsville. Her many roles include providing Indigenous leadership to Principals and a leading role in developing policies and practices that will lead to improved outcomes for Indigenous young people.

Thelma's role in Catholic Education is important to the Catholic Church and she would like to strengthen partnerships to enable Indigenous youth to participate in a spiritual learning environment.

Projects:

View Queensland's Message Stick Relay Queensland page.

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry's and Council:

Murri Ministry

The Murri Ministry can be contacted on Ph/Fax: (07) 3891 1931.

Detailed Information on their work and ministry can be found here or by clicking on the logo left.

Statistics:

Diocese	Catholics	Population	% Catholic	Indigenous Catholics
Brisbane	550,603	2,255,100	24.42	8394
Cairns	59,529	228,335	26.07	3404
Rockhampton	94,063	366,428	25.67	3387
Toowoomba	61,573	230,716	26.69	2135
Townsville	66,610	237,387	28.06	5090

Top of page.

New South Wales:

Profile: Lisa Buxton

Lisa is currently employed by the Catholic Education Office in Sydney and is heavily involved in the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in La Perouse.

Projects:

Aboriginal Sunday 2005 - La Perouse

Click the side image to View Gallery - 6 Images.

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry's and Council:

ACM La Perouse

The ACM is housed at the Reconciliation Church at La Perouse. NSW NATSICC Councillor and Secretary Elsie Heiss coordinates the Ministry with the help of Cate Wallace. For more information click on the photo of Cate and Elsie left.

Penrith ACM

In their own words: We minister in an * Aboriginal way and under the * Leadership and * Decision - making of the * Aboriginal Community.

We strive to assist, nourish and facilitate the Spiritual Care, Sharing and Enrichment of Aboriginal People especially, but not exclusively, those who are Catholic. Our Ministry is supported by the Diocese of Parramatta. See the ACM Penrith website.

ACM Diocese of Maitland - Newcastle

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle fosters the spiritual, cultural and social development of indigenous Australians. See their website.

ACM Alexandria

The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry is part of the general work of ministry by the Sydney Archdiocese. Click here to visit their website.

Statistics:

Diocese	Catholics	Population	% Catholic	Indigenous Catholics
Sydney	589.012	1,825,012	32.17	4009
Armidale	42,280	161,734	26.14	3070
Bathurst	64,936	207,795	31.25	3104
Broken Bay	187.854	835,043	22.50	1571
Lismore	100,067	421,216	23.76	4046
Maitland / Newcasle	140,882	579,856	24.3	3069
Paramatta	311,573	909,370	34.26	4060
Wagga Wagga	62,000	206,000	30.10	1581
Wilcannia-Forbes	36,801	121,816	30.21	3720
Wollongong	178,550	626,900	28.48	3371

Top of page.

Victoria:

Profile: Melissa Brickell

Melissa Brickell is a descendant of the Yorta Yorta and Wiradjeri people and resides in Melbourne. Melissa has worked as a teacher in Victoria and the Northern Territory in the public and private sectors in Primary, Secondary, University, TAFE, Prison, Museum, the Church; and in particular, as Aboriginal Cultural Parish Worker for the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Melbourne [ACMM] (1996-98).

Melissa is currently employed by Mackillop Family Services in the role of PArtnership Coordinator.. Melissa’s work, commitment and active community involvement over the last 18 years has focussed on cross cultural awareness and reconciliation among Australians.

Melissa received a Reconciliation Award from Maribyrnong City Council (Vic, 1998) for Advancing the rights and community life of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Melissa also carries with her a high profile involvement in the Stolen Generations movement in Victoria and nationally. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education (1988), Catechist Diploma (1997), Rite of Christian Initiation Adults Certificate (1997); and a deferred Masters of Arts in Aboriginal Studies.

As an active volunteer in the Victorian Community, these are a few of Melissa's commitments:

• ACMM member, 1989
• Victorian Sorry Day Patron
• Stolen Generations & Victorian Sorry Day Representative, 1997
• National Sorry Day Committee member, 1998
• MacKillop Heritage and Information Services Committee member 2000
• MacKillop History Project 2001
• Victorian Reconciliation Place Taskforce, (Victorian State Government appointment)
• Opening the Doors Foundation Trustee
• Victorian Aboriginal Catholic Council, Melbourne Archdiocese
• Melissa also enjoys spending time with her sons Lee and Troy, writing and painting.

Projects:

Pass it on

The "Pass It On" Message Stick Relay is a call from the Indigenous Catholics of Australia to the church and the nation to renew their responses to the challenges identified by the Pope in 1986.

Sunrise Celebration

On the dawn of the 5th of June 2005, the Victorian Aboriginal Catholic Council (VACC) launched the NATSICC Message Stick Relay.

The traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people hosted the symbolic event that was attended by Aboriginal Catholics from Victoria, including NATSICC Chairperson Melissa Brickell and ACM co-ordinator Vicki Walker. Bishop Hilton Deakin, Bishop Chris Prowse and CFAR member Charles Balnaves were also in attendance.

Click the side image to View Gallery - 3 Images.

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry's and Council:

ACM Melbourne

Co-ordinated by former NATSICC Chairperson Vicki Walker, the ACM Melbourne is located at
434 Street Gearges Road, Thornbury.

The ACM has Sunday Mass once per month as well as several programs such as the "Opening the Doors Foundation" - formed to keep Koori kids in Catholic Schools. For further information visit their website.

Statistics:

Diocese	Catholics	Population	% Catholic	Indigenous Catholics
Melbourne	995,797	3,365,173	29.59	2897
Ballarat	96,877	379,851	25.5	834
Sale	82,546	334,349	24.69	476
Sandhurst	86,938	322,599	26.95	704

Top of page.

Tasmania:

Profile: Ronita Barrett

Ronita Barratt is a Teacher in the Catholic School system in Hobart, Tasmania. Ronita can be contacted via this website (see contact us) and is very much looking forard to celebrating Aboriginal culture in Schools and the Church in Tasmania.

Statistics:

Diocese	Catholics	Population	% Catholic	Indigenous Catholics
Hobart	89156	470,300	18.96	2779

Top of page.

South Australia:

Profile: John Lochwiak

John is based Adealide and has extensive experience in Cultural Awareness and Teaching. He runs his own company that teaches cultural awareness to corporate bodies, church organisations as well as schools. He is now working for Rostrevor College.

Projects:

Stained Glass Windows in ACM Chapel

Click the side image to View Gallery - 3 Images.

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry's and Council:

ACM Adelaide

The Aboriginal Catholic Minsitry Adelaide is located at 185 Pirie St, Adelaide. It is home to Refugee Services, a referral service, social workers and the NATSICC Secretariat. To visit the ACM website click on the photo left.

Statistics:

Diocese	Catholics	Population	% Catholic	Indigenous Catholics
Adelaide	266,927	1,497,634	17.82	1825

Top of page.

Western Australia:

Profile: Kathleen Callow

Kathleen is a member of the Aboriginal Catholic Minsitry in Perth.

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry's and Council:

ACMC Perth

The ACMC is concerned with the spiritual, cultural and social development of people of Aboriginal descent. The ACMC guides and assists the Ministry and the Archdiocese in the Aboriginal apostolate. Visit their site

ACM Broome

The newly started ACM in Broome is co-ordinated by Leonie Kelly. They can be contacted on: (08) 9192 2961

Statistics:

Diocese	Catholics	Population	% Catholic	Indigenous Catholics
Perth	384,085	1,395,509	27.52	6627
Broome	9,020	33,550	26.89	5936
Bunbury	51,500	268,000	19.22	1052
Geraldton	26,638	115,144	23.13	3690

Top of page.

Northern Territory:

Profile: Cathie Wilson

Cathie was born in Darwin, Northern Territory and is recognised as an Elder among Larrakia people. The Larrakia, are considered the traditional owners of the greater Darwin and Palmerston areas.

As a proud mother of five and grandmother of three, Cathie is pleased that her children have been educated by the catholic education system after herself being educated by the same education system.

For the last 30 years, Cathie has worked with and for Aboriginal people of various tribes of the Northern Territory, in a variety of areas. During the last 11 years, Cathie has worked in the home-care industry caring for frail aged and disabled Indigenous people in their home and camp.

Statistics:

Diocese	Catholics	Population	% Catholic	Indigenous Catholics
Darwin	42,551	195,463	21.77	10715

Top of page.

Australian Capital Territory:

Profile: Kerry O'Callaghan

Kerry is a Gundungurra woman living on Ngunnawal land. She is married with three adult children and two grandchildren. She is a qualified primary school teacher and has been living and working in the Sydney Archdiocese for 35 years.

Kerry is the Chairperson for Indigenous Education Advisory Committee (IEAC), in the Archdiocese and a member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander catholic Council (NATSICC), Catholic Education Council (CEC ATSI) NSW as well as National Catholic Education Council (NCEC ATSI). Kerri is the Indigenous Education officer for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

Contact Details:

Catholic Education Office
52 Franklin Street
Manuka, ACT 2603

• Work phone: 0448 004 280

Projects:

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry's and Council:

Statistics:

Diocese	Catholics	Population	% Catholic	Indigenous Catholics
Canberra	159,600	596,000	26.78	2648
Goulburn	159,600	596,000	26.78	2648

Top of page.

Torres Strait Island:

Profile: Dolly McGaugey

Dolly McGaughey is the NATSICC representative for the Torres Strait Islands. We are very happy to have a representative for the Torres Strait and look forward to making the most of Dolly's experience and knowledge.

Top of page.