Suzie’s Story

Wungening had the pleasure of interviewing Susan Calyun, the first Aboriginal to graduate from the Honors Program in Archaeology at the University of Western Australia.  Suzie has been a part of Wungening for 6 wonderful years, and her work as a resource officer highlighted her dedication and compassion for our community.

Thank you Suzie, and we wish you all the best in your journey as a heritage consultant in the South West.

“I’m Susan, I’m a Ballardong- Noongar woman. My mob are from Goomalling, and I have connections all across the Noongar nation.

“I’m a resource officer in the HR team. I love working with mob, making connections with all the people I work with, working for a organisation that gives back to the community and doing all the behind the scenes, for all of that.

“I just finished my Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Archaeology, so I will be heading off to be a heritage consultant, around the South-West of WA. I’m the first Aboriginal student to graduate with honors in archaeology at UWA.

“In 2022, I did a field school up on the Dampier Peninsular, Murujuga,  recording all the engraved rock up there. Then last year I did a historical excavation in Greenough as well.

” In June 2025, I went to the World Archaeological  Congress in Darwin, and UWA sponsored me to attend.

“Working at Wungening whilst I was studying full time was really good because they were really flexible with my work hours, and supportive of my studies over the years. I was actually studying for five years, so it was really good to be able to have that flexibility and support while studying full time.

“I feel really excited to be able to go out and work in the field, get my hands dirty and work with other mob, the elders in the heritage space”

To watch the full interview, please see here.