SNAICC and the Family Matters National Leadership Group are excited to announce the appointment of Sue-Anne Hunter as the new co-chair of Family Matters, Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people grow up in family, community and culture.
Sue-Anne Hunter is a proud Wurundjeri and Ngurai illum wurrung woman and the national sector development manager with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children.
With a background in social work and trauma therapy, Sue-Anne led practice at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and continues to work at a national level to advocate for greater cultural understanding and healing for our children and families. As deputy chair of SNAICC between 2013-16, Sue-Anne spoke on the Royal Commission into Institutional Sexual Abuse of Children in Care and sat on the working group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.
Family Matters Co-Chair, Richard Weston says,
Sue-Anne has a deep understanding of the importance of culture and ‘real-life’ experience for how our children are impacted when they enter the child protection system, and I look forward to working with Sue-Anne as we advocate for the rights of our children and families.”
Ms Hunter says,
Caring for kids has always been a critical part of our culture. The trauma which surrounds a significant number of our children is part of the struggle and resistance of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The narrative of ‘child protection’ is a post-colonial excuse to take away Aboriginal children from their families. It means that our children lose their traditional protection from their families and communities and begin a deeper form of trauma.
I am proud to support this campaign to build strong communities and help spread the message that our mobs really do matter.”
– Sue-Anne Hunter, Family Matters Co-Chair
Media release 14 September 2020: Family Matters welcomes Sue-Anne Hunter as new co-chair
