Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) – Community representatives

Current JCC members

• Ms Kelly Barclay

  

  Ms Kelly Barclay identifies as a local Waanyi (North Gunnalunja) woman from Doomadgee with strong community connections. Ms Barclay is the current Team Leader, North West Remote Health (NWRH) managing the local NWRH Woolbubinya Wellbeing Centre. She has secretary and chairperson experience on various community councils and clubs including Yelladundgimarra Aboriginal Health Council, Doomadgee State School and My Pathways Community Advisory Board. Ms Barclay also possesses experience in policy development, mental health and community training and a strong knowledge of government processes. She is also involved in regional negotiations and partnerships for her community.

• Ms Susan Sewter

  

  Ms Susan Sewter is a Lardil woman with connections to Gangalidda and Waanyi people. Ms Sewter maintains strong and respected relationships with remote and discrete communities, particularly Mornington Island. She is Chairperson of the Mornington Island Health Council and is a former Mayor of the Mornington Island Shire Council. Ms Sewter does advocacy for culture, children and families and women.

• Ms Joann Schmider

  

  Ms Joann Schmider is a FNQ tropical rainforest Mamu woman. Ms Schmider brings 30 years, experience across social, cultural, economic and environment Indigenous-related matters – in the connections between policy, programming, resourcing and outcomes – with community networks, organisations, government and academia. She has qualifications in education and training, community development, leadership, governance and research, and is doing PhD studies in supporting Aboriginal people in tourism cultural promotion.

• Ms Zhanae Dodd

  

  Zhanae is a proud Ghungalu, Birri, Widi and Kaanju woman from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. Zhanae is a Court Support worker and Case Manager with Darumbal Community Youth Services Inc. where she also established the After-Hours Service and Drop-In Centre. She is currently establishing her own small business, Groove Co, which is an advocacy, professional development, consultancy and program delivery service focused on empowering young Indigenous people to self-determination, while educating others on how to create safe spaces to learn and work in. Zhanae has worked across the collective impact space through the Stronger Places, Stronger People initiative, across Child safety and Residential care spaces and as a journalist. Zhanae is passionate about caring for country, connecting to country and protecting country which has led her to study a Bachelor of Agriculture in 2022 with Central Queensland University. In 2021, Zhanae was Youth Premier, Youth Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Youth Member for Rockhampton, as a part of the Queensland Youth Parliament. In the same year she also completed her Professional Development, Supervision, Mentoring, Selfcare (PDSMS) Program through Wakai Waian Healing. Zhanae recently joined the Queensland Family and Child Commission Youth Advisory Council in 2022 and is also a board member for Gumbi Gumbi Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation. She is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy, specifically self-determination, understanding and addressing intergenerational trauma and lateral violence, reducing over-representation in government systems, and promoting cultural safety and truth telling. She also advocates for better approaches to domestic violence and youth justice issues, such as raising the age of criminal responsibility and the lack of a holistic and culturally appropriate responses for young people.

Former JCC members

• Mr Michael Bond

  

  Mr Michael Bond identifies as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man and a member of the Taepadthiggi Clan of the Mapoon area. Mr Bond has strong cultural and traditional knowledge. He is a respected leader with demonstrated experience in community and government engagement. Mr Bond is the Manager of New Mapoon Aboriginal Corporation. Mr Bond possesses demonstrated experience advocating for the rights, needs and aspirations for community, implementing initiatives and innovative ideas focused on achieving the goals and aspirations of First Australians.

• Ms Michelle Deshong

  

  Ms Michelle Deshong identifies as a Kuku Yulanji woman from North Queensland. Ms Deshong works closely with individuals and communities to build leadership, governance and engagement approaches and is the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute. She possesses significant executive-level experience in governance and community services management. Ms Deshong has a strengths-based approach to engagement and opportunities and has managed reform agendas. She also has extensive networks that enable her to engage with and maximise participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members.