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Watnanda Consulting Team

OUR STORY

Watnanda was established with strong family values. These values include; treat everyone with respect and dignity, to work hard, to value honesty, share knowledge, provide support and to have gratitude. Watnanda is guided by our ancestors and Elders to ensure there is social justice and fairness for future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander generations to prosper and to be self-determining.

Judy McDonald and Catherine Coysh are Gunditjmara women, Judy is currently based in the Southwest of Victoria; living on Gunditjmara Country, and Catherine is based in the Northeast of Victoria; living on Dhudhuroa Country.

Judy began her small business as a sole trader in 2016 and then in 2019, Watnanda was reformed into a Company with Judy is the Managing Director and Catherine is the Corporate Director.

Watnanda works with service providers to deliver the opportunities for social justice and fairness embedded in their day-to-day best practice and leadership. This can be achieved through

  • having service providers with a safe level of cultural competency

  • establishing and maintaining relationships

  • provide a culturally safe environment

  • working together in an equal partnership

  • sharing information, providing choices, and allowing people to make informed decisions.

Watnanda offers social research, facilitation, and evaluation services to achieve the goals and outcomes that are required by all service providers under the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework.

OUR TEAM

Judy McDonald

Judy is a proud Gunditjmara woman who has been living and working in the North East of Victoria since 1991. Judy is the Managing Director of Watnanda Consulting Pty Ltd which is based in Wodonga. For over 30 years Judy has been actively involved within the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities she has lived and worked.

Judy has worked in the following fields: juvenile justice, child protection, management (supervising social work students within government department), child and adolescent mental health, maternity social worker, Aboriginal service development officer, Hume region closing the health gap partnership manager, Victorian Taskforce 1000 senior project manager, and a lecturer at Albury Wodonga Campus LaTrobe University 2nd year social work. She has been a consultant in the following sectors environment, creative arts, treaty engagement, family violence, business and community work.

Judy has served on Boards, committees, and working groups to achieve outcomes that have a social and economic impact. Currently she is serving on the Kinaway Chambers of Commerce and North East Catchment Authority Management Boards; Co-chair of the Ovens Murray Aboriginal Governance committee; and the Albury Wodonga Human Research Ethics Committee.

Judy has achieved a Bachelor of Social Work (La Trobe University), Master of Social Work – research (postgraduate – LaTrobe University) and was awarded a Doctorate of Letters (LaTrobe University. She was inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour roll in 2015 for community leadership and has completed the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program (2017).

Judy is dedicated and passionate about advocating for rural and regional Aboriginal people to have a voice, opportunities, choices and to support them to strive towards their aspirations and prosperity.

Our Service Partners

contact

WATNANDA CONSULTING
Watnanda Consulting
M: 0438 561 608
E: judith@watnandaconsulting.com.au

Watnanda Consulting acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which they work and live, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

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