Office Position Held: Director (Life Member)
Term of Appointment: 3 Year Term (15 Nov 2018 – Current) 

Violet is a Yamatji woman from the Geraldton/Murchison region. Violet has worked in Whadjuk /Noongar country for many years and is accepted by the Whadjuk/Noongar community. Violet’s family name is Ryan and her mother's family name was Farrell.
Violet graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work in 1988 from the Social Work Department at Curtin University, Perth.

After graduation, Violet commenced her Social Work career in the field of Alcohol and Drugs at The Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Authority. The name was changed later to, The Drug and Alcohol Office. The Drug and Alcohol Office then merged with the Mental Health Field, which is now known as The Mental Health Commission. Violet worked in a variety of positions within the drug and alcohol field for ten years, as a Social Worker in the Aboriginal and Counselling teams, and then as a Senior Aboriginal Education Officer.

Later in her career, Violet, became the first Aboriginal (Yamajti) Social Work Lecturer to be employed in the Social Work and Social Policy Department at the University of Western Australia in 1997. While still employed at the University of Western Australia, Violet commenced studying again, and Graduated with a Masters in Health Counselling from the School of Psychology at Curtin University.

"ensure our people can work towards the healing of families by improving their quality of life in all areas"

She also worked for the National Drug Research Institution, Curtin University, for six months on a secondment from the University of Western Australia. Violet has had intensive experience in several types of counselling and has written various articles. One was entitled; what potential might Narrative Therapy have to assist Indigenous Australians reduce substance misuse, published in 2007; another article was from a research study, conducted with two other social workers entitled: What Do We Know? The Experiences of Social Workers Working alongside Aboriginal People published in 2011. In 2012/2013 Violet completed a chapter called Yarning and Listening: yarning and learning through stories, for a Social Work book, titled: Our Voices, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Work.

Violet retired after teaching Social Work students at the University of Western Australia for approximately 16 years. Violet still maintains her links and connections with Social Work, drug and alcohol issues and the Aboriginal community.
Violet was one of the original Board Members of the Noongar alcohol and Substance Abuse Service (NASAS) now known as Wungening Aboriginal Corporation. Violent is a current Board member of Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, and People who Care Organisation.

She currently spends her time supporting ED Connect as a volunteer Mentor to two Aboriginal Students.

Violet is a past Board Member of the Australian Alcohol and Drug Council of Australia, the Drug and Alcohol Authority, Palmerston and the School of Social Work and Social Policy at UWA.

To work hard as a Board Member in whatever capacity I can to achieve the objectives and vision of the Wungening Aboriginal Corporation. To support the Directors and the Staff of Wungening to achieve their objectives, purpose and vision, assisting in whatever way I can. To ensure our people can work towards the healing of families by improving their quality of life in all areas. This will complement the strong cultural spirit that abounds within our Aboriginal communities. Another important goal is to strive for an Aboriginal Rehabilitation Facility to be established. This will not only enhance Wungening Aboriginal Corporation’s reputation as a Centre of Excellence in the drug and alcohol field but will also consolidate and strengthen Wungening’s ability to respond to the numerous drug issues experienced by our people.