Acknowledgement of Country

I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners, the Whadjuk Noongar People as the Custodians of the land on which I live and work. I also pay respect to all Aboriginal community Elders, past, present and future who have, and continue to, reside in the area and have been an integral part of the story of this region. 

Storytelling knows no cultural or identity bounds. All are welcome here. We each have a unique story that is valid and valuable and worth telling.

I’m here to help you tell your story, in your way, for your audience. You can trust me with your story.

 If you work with me, I will seek to know you as an individual and appreciate your unique story.

 I seek to amplify the diverse voices of writers around me. So, whatever your race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or culture, your voice is valid and valued here. 

I promise to be kind and hold no judgement when I read your work. I will accept it as your offering to the world and treat it with respect.

How I Got here

I’ve been uncomfortable for a few years from watching reports of deaths in custody, the over- representation of people of colour in detention, George Floyd’s death, and myriad other incidents of racial injustice. While acknowledging my privilege, but not understanding what to say or how to say it without sounding trite or tokenistic, I said nothing, or very little to no real effect. 

All the while, I felt very much like I wanted to open my arms and doors to all people in marginalised groups–BIPOC, LGBTIQ+, people from different religions and beliefs, refugees, people with a disability, and people in poverty–in other words, people who weren’t me.

So, I read a lot and watched a lot of documentaries. I followed people like Rachel Cargyle and Annie Gichuru, I read Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho.

I researched and wrote a book about a girl struggling with sexuality and faith, began volunteering in community services, and tried educating myself. I’m enriching my mind and life with diverse voices.

This is how I learn. I’m a reader and thinker and it takes me a long time to absorb new learnings. In the process, I learnt about unlearning as well. Writing this statement has been a long time coming, but once I absorb something and tuck it into the fibre of my being it sticks. 

 It’s a sad fact that I’ve had to learn the value of true representation, the value of inclusion, and the beauty and richness of diversity. I was always told not to see colour and dismiss people’s differences as irrelevant. The idea was just to treat everyone the same. But that’s not equitable. 

Treating everyone the same doesn’t acknowledge that for some people, being in a marginalised group means it’s harder for them to get to the same place I stand in. They may be more qualified, have more degrees, and have more experience, yet they are not valued equally. This is what I have seen and now acknowledge.

I’m bringing my curiosity, courage, and compassion into this space.

I know there are times I will make mistakes because I am a human on a journey to learn I’m committed to doing better. 

I am committed to helping people tell their stories, and my business will always be inclusive, equitable, and open to diversity. 

Writing covers all the colours, shapes, beliefs, and values and no one owns another person’s story, but we get to share it, learn from it, and be enriched by it.  

I’m committed to always learning more. I’m studying so I can develop a more diverse approach to leading and teaching workshops. 

I’m on a journey and, even though I might get it wrong, I’m happy to keep learning so that more people’s stories can be told. 

I seek to amplify the diverse voices of writers around me. So, whether you feel labelled by your race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or culture, your voice is valid and valued here.