Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative is governed by a seven-member board elected by members.
Aunty Lyn Warren, Chairperson
Aunty Lyn is a proud Yorta Yorta-Wamba Wamba woman. She has beenwith BDAC since the beginning, joining the Board in 2001. Aunty Lyn isvery involved in community and elder activities and believes that caring forour people should always be a top priority.
Barry Fary, Treasurer
Barry joined the Board in 2014 and was the Chairperson for a number ofyears. He is a proud Gunditjmara man, born in the Victorian town ofPortland. Barry has lived in Bendigo for more than 20 years, previouslyworking at Bendigo TAFE and assisting Koori students with their educationand pathways to employment. He is passionate about seeing Koori peoplereceive the best possible education and go on to gain meaningfulemployment.
Natasha Garner, Public Officer
Tash is a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in Bendigo and lives locally with her family. Tash is an accredited mental health social worker with particular interest in working with parents with infants, children and adolescents. She has worked with the local mental health service sector since 2003 and previously worked at BDAC between 2008-2011. She has been with the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service since 2011 where she currently works as the 0-12 Clinical Coordinator, as well as in private practice at Central Victorian Child Health as a Child and Adolescent Therapist since 2018. Tash has a particular interest in working with infants and is passionate about creating opportunities to optimise parent-infant mental health and attachment relationships. She has post-graduate qualifications in Parent-Infant Mental Health and chairs the local Parent Infant Mental Health Network, where she has been a member since 2005. Tash completes her Master in Healthcare Leadership mid-2020 and is passionate about enhancing health, social and emotional wellbeing for local families and developing supportive opportunities for youth wellbeing, engagement and connection in our community.
Hazel Hudson, Director
Hazel joined the BDAC Board in 2015. Hazel is currently the ManagerFamily Services at the Njernda Aboriginal Corporation and is a qualifiedAccountant (CPA). Hazel is a Kamilaroi women who lived in Echuca/Moamacommunity since 7 years of age and has connection via children to Dja DjaWurrung and Yorta Yorta Clans and her extended family connections. Hazelresided in Bendigo for 6 years during the 1980s and returned to Bendigo in2013. Hazel is a qualified accountant who has worked for over 30 years inNot-For-Profit organisation at a grass root level with and for Aboriginalcommunities members. Hazel is passionate about working with and forvulnerable Aboriginal children and families.
Paula Murray, Director
Paula joined the Board in 2014 and is the current publicity officer. She grewup in Bendigo, but her family is from the Hawkesbury region in NSW andshe is a proud Dharug woman. She is currently the executive officer at theLoddon Mallee Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee within theDepartment of Justice. Paula has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Lawsfrom Melbourne University and practised as a solicitor for 10 years.