Meet the Southern Downs’ Indigenous leaders standing up for their mob

Australia has walked backwards on multiple opportunities to reconcile with First Nations communities, Indigenous leaders say they want truth telling and they want it now.

Meet the Southern Downs' Indigenous Leaders and how they're working to make truth telling a reality.

The Albanese Government’s failed Voice to parliament referendum has left yet another scar on First Nations communities.

When another step inched towards reconciliation with the Queensland Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry, the Crisafulli Government quickly dismantled the process.

Indigenous leaders now and of the future say it’s been made clear that racism and cultural division continues to loom large across the country.

Indigenous leaders who live and work on Githabul country have weighed in on the impact of the failed voice referendum and how truth telling is the key to preserving future generations.

See how they’re helping shape the future for First Nations communities.

MELISSA CHALMERS

Melissa Chalmers has lived on Githabul country her whole life and is fiercely proud of her Indigenous heritage.

Ms Chalmers is in the process of bringing her business, Gidjabul Djargun Management to fruition, which is aimed at providing Indigenous youths with opportunities to work on country.

It’s clear where her passion lies, having been part of cultural heritage initiatives for the Githabul people and is now on the Gondwana World Heritage Advisory Committee.

Although this year marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week, for Ms Chalmers, it’s a celebration she wished was recognised more than once a year.

“It’s something to be proud of, we’ve been here for tens of thousands of years and here we are still strong and resilient,” she said.

“I’m very proud of who I am and my connection to country.”

Ms Chalmers said the limited funding for Indigenous communities meant the application process was competitive.

“I’d like to see more funding opportunities so we can get our people trained up in land care positions (to keep them on country),” she said.

In October 2024, the incumbent LNP government put a stop to Queensland’s Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry, which would work to determine the historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Ms Chalmers said she was left disappointed by this decision.

“I just don’t understand how our country can move forward without truth telling, people aren’t willing and open to hear the truth about this country,” she said.

“We don’t want our children and grandchildren in this same fight we’re in today for recognition.

“I’m hopeful it’s something we can achieve in the next 10 years, because it just needs to happen.”

Proud Githabul woman Melissa Chalmers is working to reconnect Indigenous youths to country. Photo: Jessica Klein

AUNTY DELPHINE AND NATHAN CHARLES

Githabul elder Delphine Charles is committed to embracing and instilling First Nations culture in future generations.

A proud grandmother whose adult children and grandchildren are actively engaged in promoting their culture in the community.

Ms Charles recalled a fond memory of her eldest granddaughter, who during a NAIDOC week event at her preschool stood up and told the room all about her Indigenous heritage.

Preserving culture is vital to Ms Charles and her son Nathan, who both believe in the power of connection to country and the confidence it gives Indigenous youths.

“It builds a lot of self worth if they know who they are and where they come from and gives them a different outlook,” Ms Charles said.

“You’ve got to encourage them to be curious and to walk in both worlds.”

For Nathan, it was his connection to culture and country that brought him back from the edge.

“It saved me,” he said.

“I’m very vocal and supportive of culture being taught in the community, because growing up there was no outlet in schools or the community, the only safe space was home.”

When it comes to reconciliation, they both agree Australia has stumbled in the recognition of First Nations peoples.

“There’s been a lot of hostility against our people since the (voice referendum), it’s been really tough,” Nathan said.

“We’ve got a long way to go before we can come together, nothing can move forward unless things are put right.”

Delphine said the recent controversy surrounding Welcome to Country has left her feeling disheartened and disappointed by some of the misinformation about the tradition.

“It’s offering safe passage through country and acknowledging the traditional owners of the land,” she said.

The Githabul elder said she’s hopeful future generations will see and bring about truth telling.

“Everyone has a culture whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous, I’d like to see us come together and be one Australian culture,” she said.

“I don’t want our future generations to continue this fight.”

Delphine Charles and her son Nathan have been fierce advocates for their Githabul community. (Photo: Kate Skinner/ Horse & Soul by Kate)

DAVID AND BRENDA PARSONS

Brenda Parsons grew up unaware of her Indigenous heritage, it wasn’t until later in life she discovered who she was and where she came from.

The fear caused by the stolen generation saw many hide or deny their Indigenous heritage.

Mrs Parsons father sadly died without knowing his true heritage.

“It’s awful to not know who you are, it was incredibly important for me to find out where I came from,” she said.

Her husband David has been a longtime First Nations advocate, appalled as a non-Indigenous man by the injustice they’ve received since the European arrival.

Raising a blended family, it was important to both of them that their children – adopted and biological – were proud of their identity and found connection to their mob.

It was Brenda’s connection to her Indigenous heritage which made her curious about the way her ancestors lived.

“We learnt how to do cultural burns and how to care for the land so we could bring ceremony back on country,” she said.

They operate Nyalar Mirungan-ah Nature Refuge on their Maryvale property, alongside their daughter Sharman who also runs Cicada Women Tours, which explores Aboriginal spirituality.

Cultural burning workshops are also offered at the property, along with bush camping.

The Parsons were among a number of strong advocates in the Southern Downs region for the 2023 Voice Referendum, and are still reeling from the devastating outcome.

“All we want is for the (First Nations) truth to be known,” Mrs Parsons said.

TRADITION: David, Brenda and Sharman Parsons are trying to rejuvenate their land with native plants through the teachings of their ancestors. Photo: File

JACK AND LISA BULMAN

What started as a research program almost two decades ago has fostered into a community where cultural healing is at the forefront.

Mibbinbah Cultural Healing, operated by husband and wife duo Jack and Lisa Bulman, has been working with First Nations communities across the country.

They offer a safe space for particularly Indigenous men to have a yarn and share their stories.

“Everyone has a story to tell and they need that story heard, so it’s about spending time and if you can give them that time it goes a long way towards helping,” Jack said.

Jack said connection to country is vital for Indigenous communities and is part of two major Mibbinbah workshops.

“If we don’t know where we come from, how do we know where we’re going,” he said.

While NAIDOC week is an important celebration of First Nations culture, it only provides a keyhole view on the hard work happening every day in Indigenous communities.

“We’ve had 11 annual national gatherings and we always invite non-indigenous people to celebrate and see what our lads and girls are doing in their community,” Jack said.

“Because they don’t often get the opportunity to promote and celebrate what they’ve been doing.”

For Lisa, it’s quite emotional for her to reflect on both the past and present of her fellow Indigenous community.

“Through the good and the bad we’re still here,” she said.

They both agreed we must start listening to our First Nations community in order to preserve future generations.

“If we can’t get it right there’s probably not going to be future generations,” Jack said.

“We need to get it right now and we need to be listening to our elders and hearing those stories from them and their ancestors, it’s going to go a long way to helping the youth as well.”

Their work has led them to a number of small Indigenous communities across the country, with the youth in those communities often echoing the same issues – there’s little to do.

“It’s about talking to those younger ones about what they actually want,” Jack said.

“It’s really important for them to be able to have their voice and it’s not just a voice, it’s an authentic voice.”

Jack and Lisa Bulman have been working with Indigenous community across the country for more than a decade. Photo: Facebook/ Mibbinbah Cultural Healing

ISABELLA SULLIVAN

At only 17-years-old Isabella Sullivan has stood before Queensland Youth parliament and was named the Southern Downs Junior Citizen of the Year for 2025.

It was her curiosity about her culture that has led her down this path, having grown up unaware of who her mob is.

Isabella has devoted her time to Indigenous youth groups and learning how the education system can affect Indigenous students’ engagement and learning.

Inclusivity, particularly in decision making, has been the target of a Griffith University program aimed at improving education for Indigenous students in rural and remote areas.

Isabella said while a number of these opportunities have come through teachers at her school, she’s always actively on the lookout for opportunities to get involved with Indigenous groups.

“Living in a rural area can make it hard to find opportunities to get involved in (First Nations) programs, where your input feels valued,” she said.

“I’m lucky to have been given opportunities to have a say and show young Indigenous youths they can have a voice.”

For Isabella, there’s still a way to go towards reconciliation.

“I think we’re still on a journey to get to the right place,” she said.

Post high school, Isabella said she intends to continue her work with Indigenous youth groups.

“If you had asked me two years ago if I would see myself working in politics, I definitely would’ve said no, but it’s something I now see in my future,” she said.

Isabella Sullivan has spent her final years of high school advocating for and participating in programs aimed at giving a voice to Indigenous students. Photo: Supplied

ADAM AND JAMES WOODING

The Wooding family have been strong First Nations advocates, campaigning heavily for the Voice Referendum in 2023.

Adam and his wife Carmel aren’t the only family members promoting and engaging in Indigenous culture, with their son James, who’s in his final year of high school also following in their footsteps.

During the recent school holidays, James spent a week at a James Cook University school camp for Indigenous high school students.

He’s also participated in a number of other school-based and community events, representing the Indigenous community.

For Adam, his high school experience was vastly different, making him prouder of the opportunities for young Indigenous students today.

“There’s a lot of opportunities now for our younger generation which is just really exciting and just amazing,” he said.

Adam and Carmel’s business, Empower Digital works to support First Nations led businesses.

The pair have been hosting a networking event in Warwick, Black Coffee since early 2023.

Adam said they’ve been impressed with the event’s growth and the number of businesses participating from outside the Southern Downs region.

“The biggest challenge for a lot of Indigenous businesses starting out is they don’t have a platform to start with and almost no resources,” he said.

“That’s something we’re trying to do with our business, help with office support for businesses starting out.”

While there are some funding initiatives available, Adam said the hurdles and red tape make it almost impossible for those businesses to access.

As for the path forward, Adam said there’s still work to be done to achieve reconciliation.

“We just need to continue to be open to truth telling and acknowledging our shared history,” he said.

Jack and his father Adam Wooding at their Warwick property. Photo: Jessica Klein

Originally published as Meet the Southern Downs’ Indigenous leaders standing up for their mob