News & Announcements
Welcome to Yamurrah
Yamurrah is a word woven from the sacred initials and cherished names of our united kins. It symbolises the profound act of following the sovereign tracks etched by our wise Ancestors, revered Elders, and the trailblazers who preceded us. With utmost integrity, honour, and unwavering determination, as we traverse these sacred tracks, we do so with cultural and professional integrity, boundless honour, and resolute purpose. With each step we take, we also have the responsibility to create new tracks and plant seeds of growth and hope for future generations. Yamurrah represents a continuous journey of respect, learning and legacy, ensuring that the tracks we walk today will create a solid foundation for the generations to come.
Embrace the opportunity to gain valuable insights from culturally and professionally diverse First Nations perspectives and experiences.
“Our business ethos is about giving back and this is who we are, our essence, our purpose and our identity. Who are we if we cannot give back to the people who need it most, especially when we know that our communities are not always accessing mainstream services.
They come to us and people like us and we have to be there to hold that and importantly respond to this. We need help doing this. It is only through our self-determination that we can give back on our own terms and in ways that are survivor and community focused. Giving back is the Yamurrah way”.
Rowena Lawrie | Director | Yamurrah
Yamurrah provides clinical, cultural and consultancy services with care and integrity. This includes management of several high-level projects, wellbeing, clinical and cultural supervision sessions, training and development, events, community development projects and systemic reform work. We provide training on several topics such as culturally responsive trauma informed care, cultural safety and cultural humility, supporting managers and leaders and vicarious trauma and healing.
As a collective – we bring together culturally and professionally diverse First Nations perspectives, expertise and experiences and will work with you, in collaborative and creative ways.
Yamurrah has grown to be a leading provider, advocate, and crucial voice in the intersection of trauma, violence and healing and recovery.
Enriching Organisational Culture
Wellbeing clinical sessions.
Clinical and cultural supervision.
Training and Development.
Events and Facilitation.
Consultancy.
Management of high-level projects.
Community development projects.
Systemic reform work.
Research, reporting, evaluations, strategic planning.
Cultural audits.
Legal advice.
Group workshops and team development.
Collaborative and creative working.
RISE is an initiative under the care of Yamurrah dedicated to providing pro bono counselling, legal advice, workshops, events and support to victims and survivors of sexual assault, domestic and family violence and for people experiencing grief and loss.
Highly skilled and experienced in developing curriculum including competency-based training and, delivery of workshops.
Individual, couples and family counselling in a wide range of areas including trauma, drug and alcohol addictions, grief and loss.
Consult our legal, research, & clinical specialists for specialist advice & support. Yamurrah will support and walk beside your service.
Clinical and cultural supervision to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal workers provided by ethical qualified First Nations clinicians.
Meet the person behind Yamurrah
Rowena, is the Director and Founder of Yamurrah, a Collective made up of @ 30 esteemed First Nations people, culturally and professionally diverse. The Yamurrah Collective comprises nurses, social workers, psychologists, lawyers, teachers, trauma specialists and academics, each specialising in unique fields such as professional development, therapy, project management, leadership, research and evaluation. With close to three decades of illustrious experience as a clinical social worker, Rowena's journey is marked by a commitment to addressing complex and collective systemic trauma and injustices. Her professional background in social work, law, complemented by a profound nerdiness and studies in neuroscience, shapes her holistic approach to her work.
Currently pursuing her PhD at Sydney University, Rowena's dedication to academia and research underscores her unwavering passion for social justice and systemic transformation. She grew up and resides on sacred Darkinjung Country, and is a descendant of Wakka Wakka and Wiradjuri nations, and her matriarchal lines extending to North Leichhardt River, Gulf of Carpentaria. As a devoted mother, daughter, sister, Aunty, cousin and friend, and enthusiast of hiking, dance, arts and theatre, Rowena finds inspiration in Country, connection and various forms of creative expressions.
Recipient of the esteemed 2023 Aboriginal Social Worker of the Year award from the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), Rowena's tireless advocacy and unwavering dedication to advancing trauma-informed care and social justice exemplify her impactful contributions to the field.
Training Calendar
Yamurrah’s collective members have decades of experience delivering training and have a number of training programs available for request to be delivered into your organisation as well as a calendar of workshops to be able to register to attend.
