Elders in Residence

Our Elders in Residence

The Elders in Residence Committee was established in 2024 in response to Wungening’s strategic focus on developing healthy communities our way through Aboriginal ways of working, authentic connections and flexible services. The Elders in Residence are integral to ensuring that our services and programs are developed and delivered through a culturally informed lens.

The Elders were nominated by their communities and attend meetings once a month. They provide their cultural knowledge and life experience to help guide Wungening in designing and delivering culturally centred services for the community.

The committee consists of 15 members, all of whom bring a strong sense of wanting to give back to community.

Albert McNamara

Albert McNamara was born in Perth in 1944 at King Edward Hospital, Albert is a proud Yamatji man.

He wanted to be on the Elders in Residence Committee because he loves to be involved with the community. He believes we are losing Elders and that Elders need to be a part of things as they speak from the heart.

What Albert brings to the committee is cultural awareness and being proud of your colour and of your culture. He believes it’s a huge part of 2-way learning- working together, walking together and making the change together.

Annette Panaia

Aunty Annette Panaia is a Noongar women from Busselton (Wardandi) region. She has been operating karaoke for over 37 years providing services for funeral fundraising for our mob.

Aunty Annette has worked across the Aboriginal community in the areas of homelessness, incarceration, prisons, aged care, mental health and the police department. Her passion has always been community, particularly her Aboriginal mob. She feels that she has a lot of knowledge, skills and wisdom to offer back to community.

Brenda Greenfield

A proud Noongar/Yamatji woman, Brenda’s mob is Woods-Colbungs and Winmars and Andersons. Although she retired from support work in 2012, her heart remains very much in the community.

She’s been involved with organisations such as: Yokai; Aboriginal Advisory Group, Belmont City Shire; Derbal Yerrigan; Aboriginal Advisory Group, The Kids Research Institute; an Our Children’s Health Research Aboriginal Advisers member, Wesfarmers; and won a NAIDOC community award in 2023 for Elder of the Year. Working in community gives her the opportunity to connect with others, learn from different cultures and contribute to the healing and strength of our people.

Catherine Bynder

A proud Yamatji/Noongar Elder woman who found her Noongar family later in life, Catherine has connection to the Whadjuk, Wagual Keip and Balladong people.

She has worked in early education and currently works at the Langford Aboriginal Association as an arts teacher, she also runs the “My Time Programme” with families and children.

She believes in nurturing to give our people a better brighter future in health, living, spirit, mind body and soul to be safe.

Dot Bagshaw

Aunty Dorothy comes from Kojonup in the South West. Her mob are the Smiths, Coxs, Krakouers, Punchs, Culbongs and Evans. She has been involved with almost every Aboriginal Community agency in the Perth metro area at one time of or another, usually in the voluntary capacity of a committee member.

She was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame in 2023 and in 2025 was in the International Hall of Fame in the newspaper, for her work in representing her people and helping Elders.

Aunty Dorothy brings a wealth of knowledge of her community and culture.

Franc Croft

Uncle Franc was born on Thursday Island in 1948. He is connected to the Kaurareg Nation people in the Torres Strait Islands.

Uncle Franc was invited to be on the committee and felt as an Elder living in Kwinana he was interested in Noongar and Yamatji cultures.

What Uncle Franc brings to the committee is his cultural knowledge of the Torres Strait Islands and life experiences.

Irene McNamara

Aunty Irene was born in Carnarvon in 1940. She is a proud Yamatji and Mirning woman, committed to sharing stories of her life.

In 1940 her grandmother and 8 of her aunties and uncles were sent on a boat from Carnarvon to the Moore River Native Settlement. Her mum was pregnant and followed the family soon after Irene was born. They lived at the settlement till it closed in 1945, and after went to Wandering Mission.

Jackie Eades

Aunty Jackie is part of the Stolen Generation. She is from down south around Albany and Katanning.

She has a lot of experience in missionary work throughout Australia. She is currently a Community Chaplain Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship of Australia, Western Australia.

Aunty Jackie is passionate about children and would like Elders to be in schools to tell stories and guide the children. She sees Aboriginal people as survivors and women as the centre of Aboriginal families and wants to share her knowledge with community.

Jackie Oakley

Aunty Jackie has connections to Yuat, Yamatji, Gidja and Noongar country. She shares a similar history of members of her family’s older generations being stolen.

She has had many positions in community organisations, State and Commonwealth Governments, bringing her lived experience to Wungening.

She would like a strong Aboriginal voice in family and domestic violence, with a strong focus on children and building on the future for our community. She would like to influence a blueprint for a better future.

Marie Pryor

Marie Pryor is a Whadjuk mother, nana and great nana with ancestral ties to Balladong and Ngarlla Korlu Boodja. She is also a mission survivor.

She has been working in community for 55 years and is now an Elder passing knowledge onto the next generation, and working for the Homeless and in the Prison system.

She believes in everyone working together to make a better future for our people through cultural programs.

Patricia Clarke

A proud Noongar woman hailing from Wardandi and Ballardong Country, Aunty Pat worked in the Southwest for 45 years as an Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer. Pat has a husband, 4 children, 9 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren.

What brings her to being on the committee is that she wants to help and learn more about her culture from within the community.

Roslyn Indich

Connected to all Noongar Culture especially Yued country, Roslyn was born in New Norcia, and is a Stolen Generation survivor.

As an Elder of the Kwinana area, she would like to be on the Elders in Residence Committee and wants to be part of other Elders’ groups and to get to know their families and stories.

She brings a wealth of respect, her cultural knowledge and stories to the committee.

Shirley Harris

A Noongar Elder with ties to Balladong country, Northam, who lives on Whadjuk.

She has worked in the public service for years, bringing a variety of knowledge. She has a lot to give, loves initiating new ideas and contributing to the group for the betterment of the community.

A natural leader, Aunty Shirley is outspokenand brings her knowledge to show the young ones a way forward toward an innovative future.

Vivienne Weir

Hailing from Kojonup, Vivienne is related to the Eades, Rileys and Jones.

Aunty Vivienne finds the Committee very interesting, and after working in Perth for over 30 years finds it’s good to be able to see what is happening in the community.

She brings her knowledge of working within the public sector, specifically Child protection to the committee.

Valerie Woods

A Goreng Menang yorga, with ancestral ties to the Great Southern Region and Wajarri, Aunty Valerie has lived a life filled with resilience, strength and courage for herself, her family and her community.

When asked about her legacy and what she wishes to tell the young generation, Aunty Valerie says that it’s all about learning to never leave something on your heart, respecting country and staying truthful to your culture.