Naa Marni Niipurna

Hello Friends

Our understanding of relationships is inspired and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s knowledge and practice that sees all things as interrelated.

Kaurna

Kaurna Land spans from Crystal Brook in the north. Cape Jervois in the south, the Adelaide hills in the east and waters in the west. Kaurna land borders Nukunu, Ngarrindjeri, Peramangk, Narungga and Ngadjuri. The term ‘Kaurna’ likely finds 
it’s roots from the neighbouring Ramindjeri/Ngarrindjeri language, showing the closeness between Aboriginal lands.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands of the Kaurna People and we respect and support their Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual and Emotional relationship with their Country.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands
of the Kaurna People
and we respect and support their
Spiritual, Physical,
Intellectual and Emotional
relationship with their Country.

Our understanding of relationships is inspired and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s knowledge and practice that sees all things as interrelated.

PERAMANGK

Peramangk country extends from the foothills above the Adelaide Plains, north from Mount Barker through Harrogate, Gumeracha, Mount Pleasant, and Springton to the Angaston and Gawler districts in the Barossa, and south to Strathalbyn and Myponga on 
the Fleurieu Peninsula. There are also sites along the River Murray to the east where Peramangk people had access to the river. “Peramangk” is a combination of words ‘Pera’ – place on the tiered range of mount lofty and ‘Maingker’ – red ochre skin warrior.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands of the Peramangk People
and we respect and support their Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual and Emotional relationship with their Country.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands
of the Peramangk People
and we respect and support their
Spiritual, Physical,
Intellectual and Emotional
relationship with their Country.

Our understanding of relationships is inspired and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s knowledge and practice that sees all things as interrelated.

Erawirung

Erawirung refers to the Yirawirung and Jirawirung people whose lands are located on the upper reaches of the Murray River in the Berri Riverland. The Riverland also refers to areas surrounding such as: Ngaiawang, Ngawait, Nganguruku, Ngintait, Ngaralte, Ngarkat and small parts of Maraura and Daanggali.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands of the Erawirung People and we respect and support their Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual and Emotional relationship with their Country.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands
of the Erawirung People
and we respect and support their
Spiritual, Physical,
Intellectual and Emotional
relationship with their Country.

Our understanding of relationships is inspired and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s knowledge and practice that sees all things as interrelated.

BOANDIK

Boandik country is located in the Mount Gambier region. “Boandik” or “Bunganditji” means ‘People of the Reeds’.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands of the Boandik People and we respect and support their Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual and Emotional relationship with their Country.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands
of the Boandik People
and we respect and support their
Spiritual, Physical,
Intellectual and Emotional
relationship with their Country.

Our understanding of relationships is inspired and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s knowledge and practice that sees all things as interrelated.

kurdnatta

Kurdnatta country is located in the Port Augusta region. This area also includes the lands of the Barngarla and Nukunu people. “Kurdnatta” means ‘Place of Drifting Sand’.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands of the Kurdnatta People and we respect and support their Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual and Emotional relationship with their Country.

We acknowledge the Traditional Lands
of the Kurdnatta People
and we respect and support their
Spiritual, Physical,
Intellectual and Emotional
relationship with their Country.

Next
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We come together as RASA, a not-for-profit organisation that exists on the lands of Kaurna . Tarntanya . Kuntu . Yartapuulti . Warraparinga . Para Wirra . Peramangk . Erawirung . Boandik . Kurdnatta .

RASA recognises the world’s oldest continuous living culture. For more than 65,000 years the original custodians welcomed all people to their Lands. They taught us responsibility, reciprocity and connections to these lands, knowing we are all visitors to these places that we live, work, and enjoy.

We acknowledge the importance of knowing these countries, to recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Elders, their communities, their stories. When we learn about Country we recognise the care for the lands, skies, waters, plants, and animals that has always been a part of Aboriginal cultures.

We come together as RASA,
a not-for-profit organisation that
exists on the lands of
Kaurna . Tarntanya . Kuntu .
Yartapuulti . Warraparinga .
Para Wirra . Peramangk . Erawirung .
Boandik . Kurdnatta .

RASA recognises the world’s oldest
continuous living culture. For more
than 65,000 years the original
custodians welcomed all people to
their Lands. They taught us
responsibility, reciprocity and
connections to these lands,
knowing we are all visitors to these
places that we live, work, and enjoy.

We acknowledge the importance of
knowing these countries, to recognise
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people, their Elders,
their communities, their stories.
When we learn about Country we
recognise the care for the lands,
skies, waters, plants, and animals
that has always been a part of
Aboriginal cultures.

We are conscious of our privilege to be here, doing the work that we do.
We understand that this privilege comes from the ongoing violation of these
lands which continues to harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's

relationships, health, wellbeing and aspirations.

RASA embraces the opportunity to learn from the knowledge and wisdom of First Nations peoples. The knowledge and wisdom we absorb inspires us to work restoratively,
with open-mindedness and holistically, to foster meaningful change in future lives.

We believe that walking in harmony depends on our ability as an organisation to listen, appreciate, collaborate, learn, and speak up.

We are conscious of our privilege to
be here, doing the work that we do.
We understand that this privilege
comes from the ongoing violation
of these lands which continues to
harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people's relationships,
health, wellbeing and aspirations.

RASA embraces the opportunity to
learn from the knowledge and
wisdom of First Nations peoples.
The knowledge and wisdom we
absorb inspires us to work
restoratively, with open-mindedness
and holistically, to foster meaningful
change in future lives.

We believe that walking in harmony
depends on our ability as an
organisation to listen, appreciate,
collaborate, learn, and speak up.

This is, was and always will be, Aboriginal land, water and songlines.

This is, was and always will be,
Aboriginal land, water and songlines.

Governance

Governance

Together We Can Make Real Social Change

Geoff Kay

Geoff is a chartered accountant and is the Principal of GK Business and Taxation Consulting, an accounting firm specialising in taxation and small business consulting.

He has over 25 years experience in professional practice and was a partner of a mid-tier firm until going into business for himself in 2009. He has many years of experience in advising small businesses in many different areas including manufacturing, retail and primary production and importing.

He has been a Board member of Relationships Australia SA since 1998. Geoff is also on the board of an Aged Care Facility and South Australia’s leading Golf Club, Kooyonga.

Treasurer

Geoff Kay

Diarmid Lee

Diarmid is a director at Leed Consulting, an Adelaide based consultancy specialising in organisational and leadership development. Diarmid founded Leed in 2010 after returning from the UK, where he facilitated senior leadership development and organisational development projects across Europe at the height of the global financial crisis.

Diarmid works with clients as a coach, facilitator, and cultural change consultant, assisting them to optimise business and people performance at both the organisational and individual levels.

He holds both a Psychology degree and an LLB Honours degree from the University of Adelaide and was a Senior Associate with Minter Ellison prior to his time in the UK. He was the chairperson of Time for Kids, prior to its merger with Relationships Australia SA, having served on that board for more than 8 years.

Deputy Chair

Diarmid Lee Linkedin

Lorna Hallahan

Experienced Associate Professor with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Program Evaluation, Public Speaking, Facilitation, and Report Writing. Strong professional with a PhD focused in Disability, spirituality and social policy from Flinders University.

Lorna holds a PhD from Flinders University (2005) having completed a B. Soc. Wk. from the University of Queensland in 1982. Prior to coming to Flinders, Lorna practiced in a range of settings, including disability advocacy and the management of a loss and grief service. Lorna speaks and writes regularly on ethical issues for workers in complex human services.

Lorna was Head, Flinders Social Work from 2014-mid 2019 and was President Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work from mid-2018-mid2019. During this period she was also Chair, Flinders Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee.

Lorna has been a significant and long term contributor to the development and analysis of disability policy including the development and evaluation of the Trial of The National Disability Insurance Scheme. In 2015, Lorna was appointed the Independent Reviewer of the SA Adoptions Act (1988). From July 2019 until the end of 2020 Lorna was seconded to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability as Senior Research Advisor. She is a member of the SA Premier’s Women’s Council; and the NHMRC Research and Advisory Committee on COVID-19.

Board Member

Lorna Hallahan Linkedin

Marion Eckert

Marion brings over 25 years of experience in health care. She has worked in executive and research roles in both the public and private sector, informed health care planning, research and policy through strategic partnership, professional development and effective governance to inform strategy, and achieved $7.5 million in research and grant funding in partnership with lead agencies.

Currently, the Director of the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre. Previously served as the General Manager, Support, Research and Policy at Cancer Council SA, Marion was awarded a 2015 Churchill Fellowship for her dedication and passion towards survivorship research at a population level. She recently completed a MPH, 2015, and currently serves as the Chair of the Joanna Briggs Institute Cancer Node. She has completed a Professional Doctorate, Masters of Nursing Science, Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Nursing, Cardiac Care Certificate, Hyperbaric Certificate and awarded the Diploma of Applied Science.

In addition to this study, Marion has also completed training in the areas of clinical practice improvement programs, diploma in training and assessment (TAA) and Certificate IV (TAE) and Executive Leadership Program through University of Melbourne. As the nursing representative for the inaugural Statewide Cardiac Network, she established a statewide model for cardiac education and was the CSC of the Cardiovascular Interventional Unit, Royal Adelaide for over 10 years. Marion was previously an elected member of the NMBSA (2005-2011) and more recently she has been appointed the inaugural position of Professor of Cancer Nursing at UniSA.

Board Member

Marion Eckert Linkedin

Franco Camatta

Franco is a lawyer by profession. He is a director of an Adelaide legal practice that he established over 30 years ago. He practises in the corporate and commercial group and has a particular interest in corporate governance. He advises a number of not-for-profit organisations. His work has included an assignment with the Asian Development Bank as a legal consultant in the Lao PDR advising on issues concerning governance in financial transactions.

Franco has also been extensively involved in legal education having for many years taught in the Practical Legal Training programs in South Australia. He also holds the status of Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at Flinders University where he teaches in corporate and commercial law subjects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Franco has been a legal member of the Nurses Board of South Australia. He has been involved with Relationships Australia SA since 2000 and is currently a member of the Investment Committee.

Chair

Franco Camatta Linkedin

Claire Ralfs

Claire Ralfs is an experienced professional educator and counsellor in the family services sector. She is currently CEO of Relationships Australia SA and the Australian Institute of Social Relations, the training division of RASA. Together with an established team of researchers, educators and communications personnel, Claire has led the development of several national education resources including AVERT Family Violence, SQUARE (Suicide, Questions And Resources), and Point of Contact children living with family domestic violence.

Claire is innovative and outcomes driven with a demonstrated commitment to human services that strengthen family safety, build cultural respect and use community resources wisely. She is experienced in driving organisational change and building cross disciplinary collaboration. She is consistently able to motivate staff teams to produce service results, contribute to quality education and demonstrate evaluation outcomes.

Claire is acknowledged for designing cutting-edge resources that genuinely build professional skills. She is an experienced facilitator and educator and known for creativity in the design of new services, quality tender writing, evidence-based program logic, and successful service implementation. She has demonstrated skills in strategic planning, financial management and outcomes evaluation to ensure success within a competitive and changing not for profit sector.

Chief Executive Officer

Claire Ralfs Linkedin

Relationships are the threads that connect us to each other and the world we all shape and share.

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