Learning & events
On demand | Webinar | Talking about reconciliation
with Bianca Hunt, Melissa Stubbings and Cecily Zhu
On demand | Online
"Really interesting and valuable insights and contributions, thank you!"
"Found insights and experience valuable in my work as a Mediator.”Talking about reconciliation
On the first day of National Reconciliation week in Australia we held a conversation with two of our fabulous members. Bianca Hunt and Melissa Stubbings joined with us to share their thoughts about reconciliation and in particular the dispute resolution context for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Bianca Hunt is a Gumbaynngirr woman, she was born and raised on Barkindji and Latji Latji Country. She moved to Dharawal Country also known as the Illawarra, over a decade ago. Her passion is building partnerships and connections within the community to address issues of suicide, domestic violence, education, inter-generational trauma, inequality and injustice whilst supporting reconciliation.
Melissa Stubbings is a Darug woman of the Buruberongal and Warmali Clans and is privileged to live and work on the traditional lands of her family and ancestors. Melissa has worked in the dispute resolution context since 2005, over that time she has worked in the Community Justice Centres context, as an FDRP, training new mediators and currently combines her dispute resolution skills to also conduct Family Group Conferencing for Department of Communities and Justice and non-Government Out of Home Care Providers. Melissa is on the panel of FDRP's at Legal Aid and mediates mainly in the Care and Protection Program. As part of her business Melissa offers facilitation, cultural supervision, training, mentoring and consultation on Aboriginal protocols and practices.
This free webinar was hosted and facilitated by Cecily Zhu, a member of our newly formed Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
About the speakers
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Bianca Hunt Bianca Hunt is a Gumbaynngirr woman, she was born and raised on Barkindji and Latji Latji Country. She moved to Dharawal Country also known as the Illawarra, over a decade ago. Her passion is building partnerships and connections within the community to address issues of suicide, domestic violence, education, inter-generational trauma, inequality and injustice whilst supporting reconciliation. Her work over the last eighteen years in both the Aboriginal and Generalist Not-For Profit and government organisations has provided extensive knowledge and experience in crisis and suicide prevention, mental health, engagement and the development and delivery of training. Her passion to engage and consult with community, has led to the tailoring of suicide awareness training to support and raise awareness of the needs of our marginalized, high risk communities. Bianca has volunteered in various roles including Lifeline Telephone Crisis Supporter, the UOW Future leaders Coffee for a Cause and Junio Chamber International (JCI) ‘Let’s Do It’ clean up Australia initiatives. She is also an advocate for the community and Chairperson of the Lifeline South Coast Reconciliation Action Plan working group. Since 2017 she has been an active member of the Illawarra JCI and was elected as the Vice President of their Board 2020. Bianca was featured in the 2020 Amnesty International Challenge Injustice Campaign and recipient of the Illawarra International Women’s Day Aunty Mary Davis Scholarship for Indigenous Women 2021. |
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Melissa Stubbings Today, Melissa combines her dispute resolution skills to also conduct Family Group Conferencing for Department of Communities and Justice and non-Government Out of Home Care Providers. Melissa is on the panel of FDRP's at Legal Aid and mediates mainly in the Care and Protection Program. As part of her business Melissa offers facilitation, cultural supervision, training, mentoring and consultation on Aboriginal protocols and practices. |
About the facilitator |
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Cecily Zhu Cecily Zhu is a nationally accredited mediator and Managing Director of The Accord Group, an international dispute resolution firm based in Sydney. Cecily mediates commercial and workplace disputes and has also facilitated complex multi-party consultations. She is a Conciliator at the Fair Work Commission. Cecily is a mediation trainer and coach, and has delivered programs in Australia, Hong Kong, USA and Malaysia. Cecily is a member of the Resolution Institute's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. |