Julie Shelley

Julie Shelley is a proud Kamilaroi woman who has lived and worked in the Western Sydney Aboriginal community for more than 48 years. She has been married for 31 years and has four children and four grandchildren.

Starting out as a volunteer phone counsellor for WestCare in Penrith, Julie has worked in Aboriginal support worker, liaison and counselling roles for many years. She has been at New Street Sydney Service as Aboriginal Counsellor for over six years.

Julie continued to work while obtaining her qualifications in Master of Social Work, Bachelor Health Science (Mental Health), Graduate Diploma in Aboriginal Family and Community Counselling and has recently completed an Advanced Diploma of Specialist Aboriginal Trauma Counselling.  She is also an Accredited Clinical Counsellor for the NSW Child Sex Offender Counsellors Accreditation Scheme. She says, ‘I never want to stop learning. I believe education is the most powerful tool you can use to make positive and lasting change.’

A member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia, Julie has generously given her time and expertise to many working groups and committees organisations – too numerous to list – in roles such as national delegate, secretary, treasurer and vice chair. She has consulted to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Julie’s contribution to Aboriginal health also won her an Acknowledgement Award at the NSW Aboriginal Health Workers Forum and is the current chair of The Aboriginal Communities Matter Advisory Group (ACMAG) for the Education Center Against Violence.

Julie is a strong advocate for members of the Stolen Generation, of which she is a member herself.