You are not alone. There are lots of First Nation carers in the Canberra Community, just like you. Become connected through Sharing common grounds of caring with our First Nation carers in the Canberra Community.

Katrina Faulder is a Wiradjuri woman living on Ngunnawal country for over 20 years.

Katrina cares for her husband who has a life-limiting illness as well as their children living with chronic health and mental health.

Katrina shares her story about how she came to learn and identify as a carer.

Katrina works with carers, every day, to improve carer well-being and stop carer burnout. Listening to their stories, she came to realise “This is what I do on a daily basis. I am a carer as well!”

Katrina yarns about how supportive her workplace is to her circumstances and how she does self-care.

Katrina talks about going “Home” and feeling grounded – it is in connection to country and to family and friends where her healing starts.

Katrina talks about her goals and the opportunities she has been given to grow within her organisation and help empower carers “To give them the voice. To have a voice. To be the Voice. To make a change because you can do it and you will be heard”.

This is raw and real. No scripts.

Take a listen and connect to Shannon’s stories, her strengths, and how she uses our cultural connections, as we have in the past and present, as she shares her common grounds of caring.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are not alone. There are lots of First Nation carers in the Canberra Community, just like you. Become connected through Sharing common grounds of caring with our First Nation carers in the Canberra Community.

Lisa is from the Gadigal clan of the Eora nation Sydney and has raised her 5 children on Ngunnawal country.

Lisa shares that moving to Canberra has better opportunities for herself and her children.

Lisa shares caring is embedded in us this is what we do in our mob.

Lisa cared for her mother who was diagnosed with cancer and in supporting her mother and taking her to appointments Lisa spoke with other carers going through the same situations she would yarn to them, and Lisa said “it’s like you’re caring for the Canberra Community and give them connection no matter who they were or where they come from.

Lisa says the challenge is keeping the people in a positive mind and lifting them up through their journey.

Lisa said Canberra has a lot to offer specially Carer services and they have good grassroots such as culturally appropriate workers who have the right community connection and want to help you when you are caring and even after you are caring.

Lisa said that carers often suffer isolation so it’s about sharing information connection and knowledge.

Lisa says she goes to the gym and walks and goes back to country and cooks a good feed.

This is raw and real. No scripts.

Take a listen and connect to Lisa’s story how she helps, and support’s her community going through similar situations and reach out for support.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are not alone. There are lots of First Nation carers in the Canberra Community, just like you. Become connected through Sharing common grounds of caring with our First Nation carers in the Canberra Community.

Deanne is a Wiradjuri woman but living on Ngunnawal country and has for quite some time. Deanne’s father is from Condobolin and her mother is from Wellington.

Deane has multiple caring roles as her mother lives with lupus and her son has been diagnosed with an intellectual deficiency and has a great relationship with his school, who are more than understanding of his needs.

Deanne shares about her struggles with NDIS over the past 7 years.

Deanne has a major caring role for her sister-in-law who has been diagnosed with epilepsy and her seizures are quite dangerous and needs to be monitored 24 hours a day.

Deanne shares that they are constantly asking and searching for answers from medical specialists and doctors. And advocates for her family when they are unable to do so for themselves.

Deanne said that her niece joined a young carer program where she was supported in attending a first aid training course to support her caring role.

Deanne shares that they are using cameras to monitor of a night-time and how this type of technology has helped them caring.

Deanne said that she struggles to use public transport for appointments and with her caring role as it’s hard to be in multiple places at once. Not having personal transport is one of her biggest battles, for her to get to and from family’s homes and school pickups every day as her family members live in different suburbs.

This is raw and real. No scripts.

Take a listen and connect to Deanne’s story about the daily struggles and searching for some sort of support and how much it means to her to finally have someone understand her caring roles.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are not alone. There are lots of First Nation carers in the Canberra Community, just like you. Become connected through Sharing common grounds of caring with our First Nation carers in the Canberra Community.

Sharon is a Wiradjuri woman who lived and was raised in Brungle this Is home her connection to country.

Sharon cares for her brother over 12 years who has multiple strokes and requires daily support and Sharon is a kinship carer for her 2 nephews’.

Sharon shares her challenges of being isolated lack of connection can’t visit her friends can’t go away she wants to go home by the river and catch a fish be with her family.

Sharon shares as her nephews grow, they help and support, but Sharon doesn’t want them feel pressure to take on a full-time caring role but grateful they want to help and support her, but Sharon wants them to still be kids.

Sharon shares she comes from a strong line of women and yarning and telling her story to her nephew’s helps community connection for them to really to feel grounded and that they are strong and teaches her nephews to build resilience.

Sharon says “Listen you Mob out there you’re doing a deadly job reach out for support keep doing it your strong we love our mob I know it’s hard, but we are tough we are strong”

This is raw and real. No scripts.

Take a listen and connect to Sharon’s story, you can feel the strong connection to home and how much that’s means to her.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are not alone. There are lots of First Nation carers in the Canberra Community, just like you. Become connected through Sharing common grounds of caring with our First Nation carers in the Canberra Community.

Shawn Cady is a non-binary and uses (them/they) pro nouns they have shared their story on NITV being a famous First Nations drag queen MadB Diva baby!

Shawn shares how they are a father of 4 children and they have been caring for one of their children who is now 16 years old with multiple diagnoses. Shawn shares how much of an adventure this has been and learning along the way.

Shawn shares that their child presents normal and masks a lot which can be a really hard and not people understanding that their child is struggling due to their diagnoses.

Shawn states “There will always be a better day”

Shawn shares that there is lack of emergency relief systems although during covid there was more support for families struggling. Stating “Lack of grass roots”

Shawn is currently writing a show on being a dad and a drag queen which has been fun, and an experience and Shawn is passionate about setting up a support agency for queer youths who are indigenous.  

This is raw and real. No scripts.

Take a listen and connect to Shawn’s story, you can hear the passion and they wants to educate and make change for our LBGTQI community. Shawn shares their common grounds of caring.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are not alone. There are lots of First Nation carers in the Canberra Community, just like you. Become connected through Sharing common grounds of caring with our First Nation carers in the Canberra Community.

Chrystale is a Wiradjuri woman who was raised on Wurundjeri land. Chrystale was taught from the local Elders who taught hunting,  basket weaving and womens business. Chrystales Grandmother was a respected best known for her 10-year role as an elder of the Broadmeadows Koori Court. Chrystale has now been living on Ngunnawal country for over 30 years

Chrystale is in a high caring role for 7 of her children who 6 are living with disabilities.

Chrystale is studying her RN and also Law degree to also advocate for our First nations mob.

Chrystale talks about trying to find a balance there are good days and hard days.

Chrystale talks about judgment and the lack of education in the public’s eye or understanding of children’s behaviour who are living with disabilities.

Chrystale sits on many steering committees to help her mob get appropriate health care.

Chrystale talks about taking time with children as a family this could be going out for dinner or sitting around a fire to connect trying to find a balance to also be a mum and not just a carer.

 This is raw and real. No scripts.

Take a listen and connect to Chrystale’s story, her strengths, her passion and strives to make a difference for our first nations mob.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are not alone. There are lots of First Nation carers in the Canberra Community, just like you. Become connected through Sharing common grounds of caring with our First Nation carers in the Canberra Community.

Deborah Eades is a Yuin carer - her family connections are from the South Coast and her mother is from Brewarrina, living on Ngunnawal country.

In this yarn, Deborah shares her story about caring for her sister, extended family, and her son who has been diagnosed with Autism, nonverbal, and intellectual disabilities since a young age.

We have a yarn with Deborah and learn about her son’s diagnoses and how they have learned to live and care for her son, growing up to support Sam through school, getting him to his appointments, and living with trauma including her caring role.

Deborah talks about how hard it can be working and having to disclose personal information to get support from her employer (and the judgment that happens).

Deborah says she feels left behind and doesn’t have her everyday struggles and challenges acknowledged.

This is raw and real. No scripts.

Take a listen and connect to Deborah’s stories, her strengths, and how she uses our cultural connections, as we have in the past and present, as she shares her common grounds of caring.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.