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