Members

Maurice is a proud descendant of the Pidjarra Nation from Central Queensland through his Mother and her Mother’s Country and is connected to the Punthamarra Nation from Southwest Queensland on his Father’s Country.

Maurice has originally from Woorabinda, Central Queensland, and has lived in Canberra since 1981. He considers Canberra to be home.

Maurice has been an Elected Body Member since the second term to the present term (2024). His goals are:

• Create better educational path for young people.
• It’s important for our people to have representation.
• Create greater opportunities for our youth to become the leaders of tomorrow.
• Develop further employment opportunities within the Health sector for our community.

Maurice is passionate about representing the Canberra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and committed to change for our peoples, building better relationships with community and our organisations, and building and maintaining strategic relationships with Government.

Paul Saley is a man of Aboriginal heritage, and cultural pride.

Paul is a proud parent of two successful adult daughters who do what they can to make a difference in the community. His sister and brother are Elders in Bankstown and Liverpool respectively. He knows he can make the same impact.

Paul is invested in his faith community and believes in everyone’s right to choose how they practice their beliefs. He volunteers time: within his community, as a supporter of a Funeral Home, as a mentor to a mentally challenged individual (considered a friend), and soon to a radio station.

Paul has worked with Koori Strong, a program to help Aboriginal youth offenders. Currently, he is the Manager of Justice Support Programs for the Aboriginal Legal Service. Paul's focus is to assist Aboriginal clients who are involved in the Justice System at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, in Galambany Court, in the Magistrates Court and more recently in the Supreme Court.

Paul's interest in the Elected Body is firstly within the Justice system and reducing recidivist offending, and secondarily as a member of Aboriginal Educational Consultive Group to focus efforts on education for our young people.

Paul says, 'I don’t believe in making excuses for our life decisions, I believe in developing character and standing up for that which we think is just and appropriate.

'I am confident we can make a difference, that we can make change, and that we send a genuine and positive message that is truly heard.'

Helen Write – Member for Health and Community Services Directorate (non Health areas)

Helen Wright is an Aboriginal Budawang woman from the Yuin Nation on the South Coast of NSW with deep roots in the Nowra region.

Helen’s career journey includes over 20 years’ working in both state and Commonwealth public sectors specifically in First Nations governance and policy areas.

While Helen remains an ACT Government employee, she is taking leave under secondment to the First Nations Portfolio at the Australian National University (ANU).

Volunteering for community as a member of ACT Reconciliation Council and now currently Independent Board Member for Jungarni Jutiya Indigenous Corporation (Halls Creek WA), Helen has also served on the Tranby Aboriginal Corporation’s Aboriginal Research Advisory Group and the Expert Panel Member for the 2024 Gari Yala Project.

Being passionate about First Nations economic self-determination to support existing Closing the Gap strategies under the National and ACT Agreements, Helen continues to advocate to 'build a stronger future for our children and grandchildren and to provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, corporations and communities across the ACT'.

Kaylene McLeod – Member for Justice and Community Safety

Kaylene McLeod is a proud Wodi Wodi/Monero (Yuin) woman from Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community located within the Jervis Bay Territory (ACT). Kaylene has resided on Ngunnawal/Ngambri country for a number of years now and loves living and working on this beautiful Country.

Kaylene is passionate about Indigenous affairs, social justice and preserving the rights of our people both personally and professionally. By day she works for the National Indigenous Australians Agency and by night she enjoys supporting our community through voluntary work, participation in community events and providing aid through her family’s charity and catering company (McLeod’s Angels).

Kaylene is a proud member of the local LGBTQIA+ community and supports and advocates for First Nations people, in particular, our young people in this space. Kaylene's passion for community work extends outside the ACT, as a volunteer firefighter in the NSW Rural Fire Service. She has gained a number of years of experience as a representative on multiple Boards, including as an Executive Director of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council Board and a member of the First Nations Rainbow Board.

Kaylene hase over 25 years' experience working in Indigenous affairs and, as a proud First Nations woman,  she is passionate about advancing Indigenous platforms, social justice through equality, supporting marginalised grass-roots groups and advocating for all matters relating to our people locally, nationally and internationally.

Kaylene prides herself on learning from our Elders and using her voice and platforms to advance our people.

Tucky Tania Cooley is a proud Aboriginal woman who grew up in the La Perouse community, with strong kinship connections to the Yuin people through her mother’s family, including the McLeod, Stewart, Brown and Dixon families. On her father’s side, through the Peckham family she is Wiradjuri, with connections to the Toomey and Peckham families. Tucky’s cultural foundations were shaped through ceremony on the South Coast with her mother’s family, where she received cultural knowledge and responsibilities from a young age.

She was given law early in life and has been privileged to be part of significant cultural experiences, including participating in the return and learning of the Lady Mungo remains. These experiences have deeply informed her cultural identity and strengthened her lifelong commitment to community, culture and healing.

With the permission of Elders, Tucky is a recognised healer who supports women through birthing ceremonies and related cultural practices. She is deeply community-focused and passionate about empowering people to be strong in their culture and to support one another to thrive.
Tucky has also demonstrated strong leadership and communication skills through her involvement with Toastmasters. She has served as an Area Director in Canberra, during which time her area was recognised as 'Distinguished', reflecting her leadership and commitment to supporting others to grow. She is also a member of Mount Druitt Koori Toastmasters, the only Koori Toastmasters club, where she continues to contribute and uplift community voices.

Tucky moved to Canberra for cultural and spiritual reasons, feeling guided to be where she is most needed. Her decision to join the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body is driven by a desire to ensure that community members are better informed and connected to decisions that affect them. She is committed to improving awareness and communication, noting that there is currently no clear, accessible place for people to find out about important changes or initiatives. This is something she experienced herself before becoming involved.
She is also motivated by a concern that Canberra lacks a strong, community-led service or organisation that truly reflects and responds to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Through her role, Tucky aims to advocate for stronger community structures and greater transparency, ensuring that the voices of community members are heard, respected and acted upon.