The team
Jane Blunden - CEO
Hello, my name is Jane Lesley Blunden. I am a Walpiri/ Pintupi First Nations Woman, and my skin name is Nungarrayi (Tanami Desert Region).I have extensive experience in various spaces, have a nursing background along with being passionate and trained in Mental Health and Trauma Impacts. I am a mother of 4, two boys and 2 girls.
I was born in the Kimberley and lived with my parents on stations that were previously owned by Lord Vestey. But I grew up in Dalby and was schooled there.
Recently I have moved back from the Northern Territory where I worked with the National Indigenous Critical Response Service where I advocated and completed intensive/ complex casework on behalf of the families who had lost a loved one to suicide. I am also trained in trauma informed practices. The three main domains of this space that I utilise are:
- Safety and Stabilisation
- Processing; and
- Integration
These are key to me in my workspace when I am in the presence of communities, families and individuals. Understanding how persons best process their journey of life while they are in safe and stable relationships allowing them to integrate and transition through life to have a successful happy future.
Rebecca Hedges - Gayndah and Mundubbera
Community Programs Team Leader
I am a descendant of the Wakka Wakka people.
My role is to engage with community help and run programs for Stepping Black such as youth and women’s groups and work with other not for profit groups to help indigenous and non-indigenous people in the community.
I have lived in Mundubbera / Gayndah all my life and I have lived on our dairy far with my partner for 30 years where we have raised 5 children.
My interests include: golf, volunteering for rugby league and spending time with family and friends and helping in the community.
I am passionate about Aboriginal health, golf and my community where I live.
Eileen - Eidsvold OHSC, Playgroup and Community Programs Team Leader
My role Is to organise and plan activities for Outside School Hours Care/Vacation Care and Women’s Group and work with 5 to 12 Year Old and Women.
I have lived in the community of Eidsvold for over 50 years and am really passionate about the community and our people.
I have 3 handsome boys and 2 beautiful girls and 14 gorgeous grandchildren.
I am a proud descendant of the Kabi Kabi people.
My interests include scrap booking, photography, cooking, travel, searching my family’s background/family tree.
I am passionate about spending as much time as I can with family.
Samara - Eidsvold OSHC, Playgroup, Youth and Womens Officer
Hi, I am Samara Dodd and my position at Stepping Black is the facilitator for Play Group.
My role is to organise and plan activities and learning for children from 0 to 5 years and am also the assistant for OSHC and Youth group programs.
I was born and bred in Eidsvold. I have 4 children, 3 handsome boys and a beautiful girl with another due in September 2022. I am a descendant of the Wulli Wulli people.
My interests include: scrap booking, camping, fishing. I am passionate about spending time with family and friends.
Shailee - Cultural Program Officer in the Together in Education (TIE) program
I am a proud Taribelang and Arabana woman. I have strong family connections to Bundaberg as well as the desert regions of South Australia.
I am currently employed as the Cultural Program Officer in the Together in Education (TIE) program. This program supports families and children engaged in primary and early high school education in Bundaberg and aims to increase student attendance and engagement.
I am passionate about Education and I have held a number positions in the Families as First Teachers (FaFT) program in the Northern Territory and am working toward gaining my early childhood degree.
I enjoy the creative arts; painting, design and photography and am often out and about exploring the beautiful region in which we live. I look forward to building relationships and working with the community, Elders, families and children through this program.
Rach - Creative Arts Program Officer
My role is to provide creative activities for Stepping Black’s community programs.
I also assist with grants, admin, other events and activities where needed. I was raised in Gayndah and have lived in the community on and off over the decades as a contract artsworker working in all neighbouring areas.
I love people, and have a passion for Indigenous culture, kids, performing arts, song craft, creativity, and bringing arts to opportunities to regional areas. I am also a professional singer-songwriter of 20 years. I have many interests, including Australian music, islander harmonies, Cuban salsa, quantum physics, live gigs and more.
