Randal Ross

Name     Randal Ross

  • I have three traditional descendant backgrounds, my aboriginality is the Townsville clan Bindal and Juru from the Burdekin region and Kunjun connection in Lockhart River, my Torres Strait Island family is from Erub (Darnley Island) and my Kananka  – Australian South Sea Islander with my connections in the communities from Ayr to Bowen.

Garbutt Magpies

  • I can recall playing for Garbutt Magpies at a young age of 10yrs old. Growing up playing both Rugby League and Australian Rules provided me with great skills with a football and provided a family atmosphere playing with other relatives.
  • Garbutt Magpie Rugby League under 15 Touring Team 1981 (age 13yrs)
  • Toured Under 17 side 1983 (only 15 years of age)
  • Played in Reserve Grade Winning Premiership 1983 (age 15)
  • Played Senior football at the age of 16
  • Played in the Garbutt Magpie Club 500th Game

Community Involvement

  • Attended first National Indigenous Youth Conference 1980 Canberra
  • 1993 Committee member Youth Affairs Network Queensland (YANK)
  • 1993 Youth Committee Member National Torres Strait Islander Steering Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse
  • 1995 Youth Committee Member National Indigenous Youth Association
  • 1999 Committee member PCYC Taree NSW
  • 2001 Founding Member Men & Women of Destiny NSW Ministries
  • 2002-2004 Secretary Central Region Aboriginal Land Council
  • 2003 Founding Member Gulbri Men’s Group Gordon Neighbourhood Centre Dubbo NSW
  • 2004 One of 24 Facilitators FaCs Home Advice and Reconnect Services National Action Research Conference in Sydney
  • 2005 One of 300 Indigenous Men to Attend Inaugural National Indigenous Men’s Leadership Program Canberra
  • 2006 One of 85 Indigenous Men Invited to Canberra: Develop National Indigenous Men’s Facilitation Workshop Booklet
  • 2006 Invited to Facilitate National Indigenous Men & Women’s Leadership Program
  • 2006-2007 Townsville Thuringowa Regional Indigenous Men’s Association Committee Member
  • 2006-2014 Indigenous Men’s Radio Host ‘Talk TRIMMA’
  • 2007 National Male Facilitator National Indigenous Men’s, Women & Youth Leadership Program Canberra ACT

Education

  • I completed my year 12 studies at Pimlico State High School
  • I then went to university to study Bachelor Studies in Community Welfare but deferred after 18 months.
  • First Year Certificate Engineering: Mount Isa TAFE
  • Train the Trainer Certificate One
  • Education Trainer: TAFE teacher Cert 1 & 2
  • Aboriginal Leadership Council Training: HAGGAI Advanced Indigenous Leadership Training; Perth, WA
  • Cert 4 Workplace Assessor & Train Small Groups
  • Cert 4 in Business Management: Wesley Uniting Employment Dubbo NSW
  • Narrative Therapy Training: Level 1 & 2 : Working with Abused Men; Dulwich Centre, Adelaide, SA.
  • Kids Help Line: Peer Skills Facilitator
  • Managing Aggressive & Violent Behaviour: Centre for Community Welfare Training, NSW
  • Cert 4 in Community Night Patrol: Dubbo TAFE NSW
  • BIRC (Building Indigenous Research Capacity) Scholar, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld.
  • Current Post Graduate
  • Certificate 4 in Business Management
  • Current Building Indigenous Research Scholar (BIRC) at James Cook University
  • Current Post Graduate Student with James Cook University

Employment

  • 2011- current Co-founder and Senior Facilitator Red Dust Healing
  • 2008-2011 Indigenous Men’s Health Research Officer, James Cook University
  • 2005-2008 Chief Executive Officer: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Legal Service North Queensland
  • 2005-2004 Senior Youth & Family Worker: Dubbo Reconnect Service; Grace Cottage Inc.
  • 2002-2004 Indigenous Youth & Family Worker: Dubbo Reconnect Service; Grace Cottage Inc.
  • 2002 Indigenous Community Electoral Information Officer; Australian Electoral Commission
  • 1999-2000 Youth & Community Development Officer: Brewarrina Shire Council; Brewarrina NSW.
  • 1996-2000 Juvenile Justice Officer: Department of Juvenile Justice, Taree, NSW
  • 1999 Part-time TAFE Teacher, Taree, NSW
  • 1994-1996 Youth Coordinator: Townsville Regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Youth; TATSICW.
  • 1993 Youth Project Officer: Magani Malu Kes; National Torres Strait Islander Resource & Information Centre, Townsville, Qld.
  • 1990-1993 Child Care & Protective Services Officer: Cleveland Youth Detention Centre; Department of Family & Youth Services, Townsville, Qld.
  • 1988-1990 Child Care Officer: Mount Isa Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Child Care Agency; Mount Isa, Qld.

Family

  • Married to Megan Ross
  • Have Three Son’s Liam, Naaman & Kedar Ross
  • I have strong connections with my Aboriginal, Torres Strait Island and South Sea Island (Kanaka’s) Families throughout Queensland
  • The Garbutt Magpie Club and their members has also been a large extended family.

Life achievements

  • 2007 Keynote Speaker: National Indigenous Men’s, Women & Youth Leadership; Alice Springs. Presented Paper titled: ‘Where Are The Fathers’
  • 2007 Co-founder and Secretary of the Red Dust Healing Program
  • 2007 Honorarium Speaker for Central Queensland University; Centre for Domestic Violence Unit Mackay: State-wide Presentation via satellite: Red Dust Healing
  • 2008 to 2014 Appointed by Federal Government Board Member: Jezzine Barracks Community Trust Fund
  • 2008 Elected Inaugural Australian Indigenous Men’s Health Research Council Member Alice Springs NT.
  • 2008 One of Six National Indigenous Members awarded the Rowan Nicks & Russell Drysdale Fellow with Sydney University NSW
  • 2008 Guest Speaker: Red Dust Healing; National Domestic Violence Conference Mackay, Central Queensland University, Centre for Domestic Violence Unit.
  • 2008 Presenter: “Boy’s to Men: Garbutt Magpies 25yrs On”, Creating Futures Conference: Cairns Queensland Health
  • 2008 Facilitator National Indigenous Men’s Leadership Training FaCHSIA: Canberra Indigenous Leadership Program
  • 2008 Co-Author of the ‘Boy’s to Men: Garbutt Magpies 25yrs on’ Community Report
  • 2009 Invited Guest Speaker: Indigenous Men’s Leadership Recall Cairns, Queensland; FaCHSIA Indigenous Leadership Program; Canberra
  • 2012 Guest Speaker: Centre For Domestic Violence, Central Queensland University Mackay: Red Dust Healing
  • 2012 International Guest Speaker: Mindanao Peacebuilding International Institute, Davao, Philippines: Red Dust Healing
  • 2013 Keynote Speaker: National Men’s Health Forum: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
  • www.thereddust.com
  • http://aboriginal.telethonkids.org.au/kulunga-research-network/working-together-2nd-edition-2014
  • www.cultureislife.org
  • www.healthinfonet.ecu.au/key-resources/programs-projects?pid
  • www.caritas.org.au/learn/program/australia
  • www.paic.com.au/documents/PIASC_%20AnnualReport%202011-2012.pdf

Advice to youth

  • Destiny: We all have a story but life is about the choices we make, not the chances we take, that determine our Destiny.
  • Love and Respect start within your heart.
  • Always remember opportunities comes in season, when the time is right, make the most of the opportunities that come.
  • People will always remember you by your integrity, dignity, love and respect that you share with one another
  • To change your situation or circumstance, you must become the change

Who grew you up

  • I have to acknowledge my mother on a wonderful job she did to keep me on the straight and narrow and provide for me and my siblings.
  • My Uncles and Grandfathers also played a great role as father figures.
  • I also had other positive male role models that inspired me in my life.