Lucy Davis

Background

About Lucy Davis

I am proud Aboriginal/ South Sea Islander woman from the Cobble Cobble clan of the Burrungam Nation of South West QLD. I am a mum of four children and I play a vital role in my family as a ‘song woman and dancer’ teaching my gundoo’s (children) the traditional song, dances and stories of their songlines Boobarran Ngumin or Bonyi Bonyi (Bunya Mountains). Bonyi Bonyi is a well-known story of First Nations peoples throughout Southeast QLD as many clans would make the trek every three years to feast on the bunya nuts and gather in circle and discuss business.I have used the story of Bonyi Bonyi to host yarning circles virtually and in person for a number of councils, faith-based organisations, universities and government agencies. This process has allowed a space for non-Indigenous people to share conversations in a respectful way.I am the current Nation RAP and Strategic Manager for The Salvation Army and I directed over 80 virtual yarning circles which formed the basis of The Salvation Army’s first National Reconciliation Action Plan (Innovate) launched in December 2020 with a key commitment to Truth Telling and Social Advocacy.We at the Salvos have just completed our First National Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) completing 89 deliverables. I am very proud of our RAP; the changes that we have made to support and empower mob to want to work at the Salvos is literally award-winning. We are the recipients of the Seek 2024 Social Inclusion Best Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, and were finalist in the Queensland Reconciliation Awards for our Christmas Cheer initiative in First Nations communities receiving the ‘Highly Commended’ award. It is an outstanding achievement, but one that has not come without reflection on our ministry and reflection on ourselves. I also facilitated one of the first virtual yarning circles for the Uluru Statement from the Heart with over 50 CEW woman in attendance with a leading panel of Sam Mostyn, Aunty Pat Anderson AO and Professor Megan Davis.I have worked with the Uluru Dialogues team by using the Bonyi Bonyi process to create virtual yarning circles called ‘Start a Yarn’. The circles allowed Australians to listen to the journey of the Uluru Statement from the Heart whilst offering people a chance to engage in respectful conversations with leaders of the Uluru Statement on the referendum and what a enshrined voice to parliament looks like.