Make Indigenous Poverty History

Gabrielle Russell-Mundine is currently a PhD candidate at Southern Cross University where she is investigating the experiences of an Aboriginal Corporation as they undertake the process of investigating and developing sustainable community enterprise options including tourism, forestry, education and social enterprises. Gabrielle also coordinates the Make Indigenous Poverty History campaign, run by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) and through this campaign works on education and policy programs relating to Indigenous rights, poverty and the Millennium Development Goals. Gabrielle started out her working life in the small business sector learning about business in industries as diverse as office products to baby products. Her real interest however was in the volunteer work she was doing in youth programs and later in politics. Eventually she moved full time into the not-for-profit sector and has since worked for NGOs such as Amnesty International, The Futures Foundation and the Minerals Policy Institute. She has also worked as a political advisor to a NSW Senator, researching and advising on corporate social responsibility, human rights and foreign affairs issues. Graeme Mundine is the Executive Secretary with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Council (NATSIEC). He is on the NSW Catholic Education Commission, World Youth Day Aboriginal Committee, Caritas Australia's Indigenous reference group, World Council of Churches reference groups on Racism and Indigenous Peoples. Prior to this he was the education and advocacy officer of NATSIEC. He worked as a Travel Consultant for three years with American Express Travel. Before that (1991-1997) Graeme headed up the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC). NATSICC works closely with Indigenous Catholic groups and advises the Australian Catholic Bishops on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. He was co-author of the Catholic Church's response to the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families, "Bringing them home". He was on the Board of trustees of Nungalinya Theological College Darwin. Graeme has worked as a youth and social worker and has had teaching positions in Secondary schools in Sydney in the area of Maths and Religion. He has also held Boarding and Year Masters positions at these schools.