Dr. Melisah Feeney - CEO

My name is Melisah Feeney and I started in early September as the new CEO of Link-Up Qld.  I have been involved in a wide range of social and emotional well-being projects with Indigenous communities over the past 15 years in my work as a psychologist and community activist. I was the Director of the Footprints in Time project and a committee member of the ACT Journey of Healing and involved in organising Sorry Day events. I have Celtic roots with most of my family from Sydney and the NSW North Coast.  We have recently found an Aboriginal uncle on my father’s side.  I come from a large though dispersed family and have been through my own experience of reuniting with siblings that I was separated from when I was growing up, including an adopted Aboriginal sister. 

Brian Marshall Jnr. - Case Work Manager

I am from the Bundjalung nation in NSW.  I have completed a Bachelor of Archaeology (Hons) from the Flinders University of South Australia and am currently undertaking Post-grad studies. It is an honour to be able to work with the Qld Link-Up team as their Team Leader. It is very refreshing to have the opportunity to work with an organisation that has a positive impact on the Indigenous community. My previous employment has been within the University sector as a lecturer and researcher. My current vocational study is a collaborative approach between my father and I to tell his story as a Stolen Generations man. It has been a very difficult journey for both of us, but one that has allowed us to laugh and cry throughout our journey together. I believe that there are many other Stolen Generations members out there who need to have the opportunity to find where they are, and who their families are and also have the opportunity to laugh and cry throughout the journey.

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Helen Belle Bnads - Counselling Services Manager

I joined Link-Up (Qld) Aboriginal Corporation as the Social, Emotional & Well Being Counsellor. I am a descendant of the Bindal people (Ayr, Qld) with direct family connections to Cherbourg.
My professional career has been varied and across many core fields of learning, Business, Education, Health, Sport and Environment.This has meant working in three mainstream areas of government - Federal, State and Local.I hold two University degrees from Monash University& am currently undertaking further studies in Narrative Approaches for Aboriginal People (Counselling Group and Community work).
I worked as an Oral History Interviewer for the "Bringing Them Home" project, National Library, Canberra and am suitably qualified as a mature aged and experienced Counsellor. I am a Mother and Grandmother.

Mick Angeles - Communications Manager

I'm from the Binbinga & Ngandi mob, Boorooloola on the McArthur River NT and Barunggam mob out Chinchilla Q. I also have South Sea Islander kanaka from Ober Island, New Hebrides, Phillipino and Scandinavian bloodlines, and now that I've shaken the family tree, some Japanese has fallen out as well. I originally thought my mob came from Hollywood.
I am a professional musician/singer & operate my own home-based Recording Studio. I am also a professional photographer and videographer and ran my own photographic business. I joined Link-Up (Qld) on 25th June 2007 to setup their website. I have Diplomas in Information Technology (Multimedia Integration), Cartooning & Illustration and Photography.
I believe the services, care and professionallism I have witnessed at Link-Up(Qld) is a major contributor to their successes in reuniting families of the Stolen Generations.

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Darcy Bolton - SEWB Counsellor (Rockhampton)

I am a descendant of the Wailwan and Muruwarri people from the Brewarrina area NSW. I hold a Bachelor of Social Science Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I joined Link-up on the 23rd June 2008. I look forward to helping our people as some of my cousins were apart of the Stolen Generation. In the past I have worked in Education, Health and the Prison System with a passion to help our people. I have written and published many articles on Aboriginal Mental Health and Spirituality and Aboriginal Psychology. I am married with 8 children, 10 grandchildren, another one on the way, and one great granddaughter. My hobbies are oil painting and cutting gem stones.

Mati Mistry - Counsellor Brisbane

It is my honour to have the opportunity to work in an organisation that is working towards healing the spirit of the Indigenous community. I was born in England and my heritage is Indian. I grew up in a large extended family of fifteen in a close knit Indian community; this gave me strong understanding of family and cultural belonging. I joined Link-Up (Qld) in Feb 2010. I have had a very diverse professional career; I studied, trained and worked with The Richmond Fellowship UK in Mental Health, Rehabilitation and Well Being.  I moved to Australia 25 years ago & changed directions and trained and worked as a tapestry weaver at The Tapestry Studios of Australia weaving rugs for the then New Parliament House and then ran my own studio where I developed my own style mixed media art. In the last five years I have been teaching and running workshops for children, and young people at schools, non government organisations and in my private practice with women’s groups in Creative and Art Therapy. I have recently completed a Post Graduate Diploma and Master of Arts in Experiential and Creative Art Therapy, with The Melbourne Institute for Experiential and Creative Art Therapy.  I continue to pursue my creativity.

Ruthie Link -Caseworker/Counsellor Brisbane

Hi everyone. I am a descendant of the Goreng Goreng people (Gladstone, Bundaberg).  I spent my youth growing up in inner Brisbane. I have just completed two Diplomas at Southbank Institute in Community Services. I am a Mother, an aunt, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, but most of all an Indigenous Woman.
Healing the past for my people is the beginning for us to live the best lives possible for ourselves, our children and our Community and I hope we can work together to  achieve that during my employment with Link-up(Qld) as a SEWB Counsellor.

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Jody Jackson - Caseworker

I'm a proud Koori of the Kamilaroi and Bundjalung Nations in NSW. I have been employed with Link-Up (Qld) since August 2005 as a caseworker. I have previously been employed in a number of roles within the Brisbane ATSI community organisations including Domestic Violence Support and Refugee worker, Housing Support worker for youth, Female Youth Support worker, Book-keeper, Admin Officer and Teacher's Aide. My main interests are my family (my husband and two daughters), Basketball, Touch Footy and Rugby League.
I am a proud Great Aunty to my darling nephew Jayden and great niece Shailla.

Karen Collins - Caseworker

Pamela Frith - Caseworker

Hi my name is Pam Frith and I am a newly appointed Caseworker for Link-Up (Qld).
I have been working within the field of Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing for
Regional Centre’s in NSW for the past seven years.  I have a Degree in Aboriginal Studies and a  Graduate  Diploma in Adult Education.
I have worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for many years and I feel this experience has given me the sensitivity and committment necessary to fully support our clients.

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Bernard Kelly-Edwards - Caseworker

I am a 30 yr old Gumbayngirr boy from the mid north coast of NSW (Nambucca Heads) who left school back in '96 and went to Sydney and work with various departments and agencies over a period of 10 years. I recently completed media studies at Batchelor Institute in NT and my strongest passion is photography. I have worked for Legal Services, Fair Trading Departments and Corrective Services in NSW then after a period of time decided to make a move north to Yuggera (Brisbane) country and start a new life after testing times in my life. I have turned my life around and worked for a Job Network company in Logan in '08 and resigned from there to continue my passion in photography. When I was experiencing my testing times I became involved in a program called Red Dust Healing and I am currently an advocate for this program becoming an example of someone that has changed their life for the better.  
I aspire to direct short films and have created 3 short dvd’s which capture a fraction of my life. I am very excited to join LUQ as i feel that my experience and understanding will benefit the people involved and help find peace within.

Henrietta Hunter - Caseworker

I have a loving and supportive husband and three beautiful children, two boys and a girl.   My family ties are Kaitidj and Walpiri people Central Australia and Irish thrown in from my mother side, Tiwi and Iwaidja people through my father side.  Both my parents are from the Stolen Generation.  I come from a large family of twelve which I am the sixth child with eight sisters and three brothers.  I commenced worked with Link-Up (Qld) on 15th December 2009 as a Caseworker. 
I have worked and lived in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders  communities areas of Darwin, Tennant Creek, Nguiu (Bathurst Islander) NT and Charters Towers QLD regions.  My work background is employment, education, training, youth affairs, mining and community services. My interests are family including my very big extended family, basketball, Aussie Rules, Rugby League, swimming sun-surf-sand and fishing. I am currently studying part-time at James Cook University Cairns Campus in Bachelor of Community Welfare. I’m very excited to be part of a wonderful team and I’m looking forward to making new friends and settling into my new life in Brisbane.

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Nicholas Thompson - Caseworker Cairns

My name is Nick & I am one of the case workers for Link-Up based in Cairns.
Prior to working at Link-Up I worked for an Aboriginal Corporation providing legal assistance to Indigenous victims of domestic & family violence in the Central Desert communities of the Northern Territory. Working at Link-Up has enabled me to see the myriad of failed government policies that have been forced upon Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and the devastating impacts that they have had on individuals, families and communities. Working for a service like Link-Up is a positive and rewarding position as the service seeks to work with Indigenous people to navigate through the negative parts of the past and find some positives for the future. I have a strong commitment to self determination, and human rights within an Indigenous context and find it a great privilege to work with people on their journey.

Marilyn Smith - Caseworker Townsville

I am based at the Townsville Aboriginal & Islanders Health Services in Garbutt where I was previously employed as a Stolen Generation Counsellor for the past 4 years.  I consider myself a Nuargi woman as my late grandmother was taken from around the Cardwell area in North Queensland.  My rationale for being short in stature is that my heritage can be traced back to the rain forest people of Nth Queensland.  My late grandfather came from Murray Island.  I consider myself  very lucky as I have both an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island background.   I graduated from Townsville's  James Cook University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Community Welfare Degree at the age of 50+.  I am a Board Member of the North Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal Service (ATSIWLS Nth Qld) and am involved in the Townsville Human Rights Movement.  I am a proud mother of three and the doting grandmother of five.      

Ruth Loli - Research Officer

I joined Link-Up (Qld) as a Research Officer in June 2009.  I have completed a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Anthropology and have been working in the field of native title for the past five years.  My experience has increased my understanding of the scale and complexity of the issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.  I come from a multi-cultural background and am married with a two year old son.  I currently work part-time and am in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

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Valerie Clarke - Office Manager

Valerie was originally contracted to assist the Caseworkers with their Foxtrot data entry. Originally from the Midlands in England, Valerie settled in Australia seven years ago with her Australian husband, Gavan.
Valerie now oversees the operation of the Administrative services at LUQ.

Katelyn Iselin - Administrative Officer

I am from the Mununjali mob out of Beaudesert and the Nunuckle mob from Stradbroke Island. I joined the team here at Link-Up (Qld) Aboriginal Corporation on the 4th April 2009 in the Administration department. I have completed a Certificate III in Hospitality and am now currently studying for my Certificate IV in Frontline Management.

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Kerriann Toms - Administrative Officer

Link-Up has been a great place for me to learn about the Stolen Generations and I enjoy supporting other people who may be looking for family members. I am a product of the Stolen Generations, as both my parents were taken away from their families as very young children. My Father spent most his childhood at Kinsela Boys Home, and my Mother was brought up in Cootamundra Girls Home. I was adopted into a white family as a baby and grew up with no idea of my culture, or who my birth parents were.
Fortunately for me, that all changed with the help of Link-Up, who found my Mother about 3 years ago and promptly organised a reunion between us. It was a wonderful experience, and I was extremely surprised to find that I had another 5 brothers and sisters, and 13 nieces and nephews. Just last year, my Mother, managed to track down my Father, and again Link-Up stepped in and arranged a reunion which was quite incredible. This time, I found out that I had another 7 brothers and sisters, and I’m not sure how many nieces and nephews (but there’s a few!)
It is for these reasons which I felt the need to work here at Link-Up, as they have provided 2 x wonderful life experiences for me. I truly hope, that if you are thinking about searching for your family, or still waiting for information, that Link-Up can provide you with the closure, healing, and/or happiness which I have gained through their support.

Marietta Pita - Temp Administration Officer

I join Link-Up in awe of the work that is done here. I was born in Fiji, but migrated with my family in 1970 to Australia, settling in Sydney. My people are from Rotuma, a little island 460 south east of Fiji and I am one of nine children, being number 6 and one of three girls. My husband and I have three boys, 22, 10 and 8 years of age.
I have  a Diploma in Business Communication and have completed various compulsory in-house courses and training while with the Attorney General’s Department NSW of which I had worked for 14 years. I spent 1 year at UNSW (pretending to study) back in the early 80s, but after partying like it was 2999, my parents yanked me out. Prior to moving to Brisbane last September, I worked for the Department of Immigration in what they call a Non Ongoing position, alas, I could not be transferred as Brisbane does not have an office per se.
I hope that in the short time that I am here, I will be of some use to Link-Up but intend to learn and be really involved with the Indigenous community.  I don’t know how - yet, I just know that I will. I am honoured to be part of this caring team of people who have been patient and encouraging from day 1.