By Eric Martin
As one of the many Catholic agencies providing essential services to West Australians, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) is at the forefront of providing culturally competent assistance and support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of WA, with a strong vision of equity and equality, driven by the energy and leadership of its directors.
As such, when a Director like Vicky Burrows leaves, a director who has forged such a rich history during her tenure as the head of ACM for the last 3.5 years, the organisation feels the loss at every level.
Ms Burrows began her role with ACM in January 2016 as the first lay director of the ministry; her role was to ensure that ACM met the needs of the Aboriginal community while working within the parameters of the Mandate provided by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.
“On a day to day basis that involved working with the team; council, schools, the Church, finances, visiting community, doing training and administration; all sorts of fun stuff – helping the mob grow in faith and culture” Ms Burrows said.
“I also enjoyed seeing other non-Aboriginal people like myself learn about Aboriginal people, history and culture and exploring our complex relationship as a Church.
“These three and a half years have been a real privilege and I am deeply grateful for the wisdom, trust and experiences that have been shared with me: my faith and life was enriched by sitting with members of our Aboriginal community who shared with me their faith and experiences,” she shared.
“My connection to this country and God has been strengthened and I am pretty happy with what we have been able to create together: Reg, Donna, Donella, sister and father as well as all the council and the rest of the mob, thanks!
“I am sad to finish up at ACM, yet excited about my new role and its focus on reconciliation and Aboriginal engagement and pathways as well as mission and mercy,” she added.
Ms Burrows leaves to take on the exciting role of Executive Director of Mission and Ethos at MercyCare Community Services, where she will support their work in embedding their mission of bringing compassion and justice to life and breaking significant cycles of disadvantage.
“While I finish in the role as Director at ACM it isn’t a goodbye to this wonderful Aboriginal Catholic community.”
Her role as Director of ACM is to be taken on by Donella Brown, who has already been helping to fulfil the role on a part-time basis since April 2019.
Ms Brown said she became involved with ACM back in the late 1980s when a pastoral worker with the agency became a member of the Clontarf Aboriginal College Board while she was Principal.
Ms Brown, a Yawuru women, was born in Derby and on her mother’s side has cultural connections with Broome. She brings a wealth of personal experience and perspective to the role, springing from her long term involvement with the organisation as a member of its council and through her work at Clontarf Aboriginal College (as a teacher and principal) and at Irene McCormack College as Aboriginal Liaison Officer.
“I think that it is natural for Aboriginal people to want to work with their own people: we have the advantage of knowing, experiencing and seeking ways to address the many challenges that we experience on a daily basis,” she explained.
“In my case it has been my journey in the field of education – it is this passion that continues every day in my working life.”
Key tasks associated with her last role saw Ms Brown working in partnership with Catholic Education Western Australia to raise the educational achievements of Aboriginal students; promoting and maintaining positive working relationships between the College and external agencies; promoting the inclusion of Aboriginal students in the College, and; developing effective communication with Aboriginal families in the community.
Her work saw her forge strong links among the Aboriginal students, their families and the staff of the College through efforts such as maintaining contact with families, including home visits to parents to convey information on issues such as College policies and procedures, curriculum issues, Aboriginal Parent activities.
This role also included liaising with the Principal and staff on student issues and assisting with the enrolment of Aboriginal children by promoting the availability of Aboriginal bursaries for families who would not consider Catholic education because of financial constraints.
Ms Brown said that the many experiences she has had, both in the role of Aboriginal Liaison Officer and as associate Director have thoroughly prepared her for the role and that she looks forward to taking on and continuing the outstanding work that ACM does on behalf of Aboriginal Australians.
“As an Aboriginal person I have always been aware of our needs in particular the need to make sure that the true history of Aboriginal Australia is recognised and acknowledged by all Australians so that together we are able forge a positive future,’ she shared.
“As an organisation, I would like to explore ways that we can involve the Aboriginal community in a meaningful, prayerful and culturally appropriate way. Personally it is a challenge for me to once again to take on a leadership role.”
ACM is a non-profit organisation, of the Archdiocese of Perth founded in 1975 to promote the spiritual, cultural and social development of people of Aboriginal descent.