hello from Rowena Lawrie, Our Director
I am the founding Director of Yamurrah; a collective of First Nations clinicians, educators, consultants, and legal experts, who are specialists in trauma, recovery, and healing. We work with victims and survivors of complex and collective trauma, and the clinicians and services who work with them.
Yamurrah provides clinical, cultural and consultancy services with care and integrity. This includes management of several high-level projects, therapy and clinical and cultural supervision, community development projects and systemic reform work. We provide training and development on several topics such as integrated trauma informed practise, vicarious trauma and cultural humility. As a collective – we bring together 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.
“Rowena is highly regarded in the Trauma sector both with Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal colleagues. Rowena is committed, ethical and a real team player. Her unique ability to juggle a range of complex projects, think on her feet and still be smiling at the end of a busy day, is rare and explains why she is in high demand”
“Rowena gets Community….and what she brings to the community is an informed voice….a voice that is true and resonates an Aboriginal worldview. Rowena is a nurturer, and known in the healing space….she has a lens that is considered and never faulters from that bottom line –justice for my people.”
“I have known Rowena for years and years and she comes from a place of wisdom, strength, knowledge and spirituality. It is the essence of who she is as an Aboriginal woman. She talks it, she walks and she shows it and it has a massive impact on community. She is softly spoken but a powerful woman. My Grandmother always said you have to tread softly on country and that is what Rowena does, respectfully and calmly, that carries families and communities”
“Rowena is a highly skilled communicator and effective in articulating complex concepts, influencing thinking and action to drive change in service planning, implementation and monitoring. Coupled with high level work ethic and a vision of equity within society, Rowena is a strong advocate for ensuring the most vulnerable community members’ voices are heard and principles are embedded into practise to meet their individual and collective needs”