About Us
FIRDA exists to provide recovery and development services for families and communities to sustain cultural self-determination and cultural traditions.
We work with individuals, families and groups to transform the impacts of generational trauma, violence and acculturation to ensure happy and health living.
Healing and Recovery from Chemical and process Dependencies e.g. alcohol and other drugs,
gambling, love, sex and romance addictions, Healing Adult Children, Toxic Shame, Recovery
from Trauma, PTSD and other Dissociative Mental Health issues.
IN PARTICULAR
AND
TJUKURPA PULKA - LIVING OUR LAW IN ACTION
About
FIRDA is a First Nations Community based not for profit organisation that is self determining and
follows our ways in the Law. We are a national organisation working specifically in NSW regional areas, the ACT and QLD. We do work in other areas via invitation by community and service agencies.
We follow the teachings of Our Culture and our Elders shared with their wisdom. We come from many clans and nations to fight for the recovery of our peoples from the impacts of generational colonisation to ensure this cycle is broken in our generation.
We follow the teachings of Our Culture and our Elders shared with their wisdom. We come from many clans and nations to fight for the recovery of our peoples from the impacts of generational colonisation to ensure this cycle is broken in our generation.
Our People
Dr. Tjanara Goreng Goreng
PhD PDM MSoc.Admin.(Comm.Dev.) MSW Grad.Dip.Pysch.(Bridging) Grad.Cert.Soc.Sc.(Past.Care)
CoFounder Wakka Wakka/Wulli Wulli QLD
CoFounder Wakka Wakka/Wulli Wulli QLD
OUR CIRCLE OF ELDERS - OUR NAVIGATORS - LEADERS
Ms Debra Bennet
Dr Warwick Middleton
Kumuntjay Randall
(Uncle Bob)
Anangu Yunkuntjatjara/Pitjanjatjara Northern Territory Australia
Kummunarra Tjikatu (Barbara)
AO Anangu Pitjanjatjara of the Umpiyara Homelands near Yulara, Northern Territory Australia
We are First Nations people who have grown up in their cultural traditions for 50-60+ years in our clans on the eastern coast, western NSW, north West NSW, central west Queensland and Central Southern Queensland of what is now called Australia - Ngunynateea Our Mother Our Country.
We are academic, public policy, therapists- psychotherapy & gestalt therapists, social workers, mental health workers and community based First Nations, government administrative & public policy knowledge holders with 60+ years experience in the public, corporate, not for profit and First Nations community sectors people who have worked in mental health, dependency (drug & alcohol) recovery and community cultural development.
'First Nations people are advised that this page contains photos and information about Aboriginal people who have died'
'First Nations people are advised that this page contains photos and information about Aboriginal people who have died'
CO Founders & Visionaries of FIRDA
Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng TO & Elder Wakka Wakka/ Wulli Wulli Central QLD. Academic researcher, psychologist, social worker/policy advocate/ngungkari
Ms Debra Bennett, Kullali QLD
Ms Marj Droste Kullali QLD and Wakka Wakka QLD
Dr Paul Collis - Storyteller and Cultural leader for men Barkindji NSW
Ms Kerrie Shepherd Wyappa Movement-Practitioner, Kamilaroi NSW Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng
Trish Frail Nyemba Elder and Traditional Custodian
Ms Kerrie Shepherd Wyappa Movement-Practitioner, Kamilaroi NSW Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng
Trish Frail Nyemba Elder and Traditional Custodian
Current Practitioners
Patron
Aunty Mary Graham Koombemerri Elders Gold Coast Queensland.