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Tanya Wells

Social and Emotional Wellbeing Officer

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

Tanya is a proud Palawa woman with Dutch heritage, raised on the North West Coast of Tasmania. Deeply connected to her Country and culture, she carries the rich knowledge passed down through her family and Elders — knowledge that continues to shape her path in both life and work.

A devoted mother of one, Tanya is currently supporting her daughter through university, where she is studying a Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation and Biology with the shared goal of giving back to Country.
Tanya has built a diverse career across Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and mainstream sectors, including local government, mental health, and legal services. Her work reflects a deep commitment to community, culture, and justice.

Alongside her professional journey, Tanya runs a small cultural business creating contemporary Aboriginal products. This venture not only helps support her daughter’s education but also serves as a way to share culture, promote healing, and celebrate identity through art and storytelling.

SESSIONS

Day 2

1:50

Panel: Transforming custody: Centering Aboriginal mental health

  • Hear about the mental health challenges faced by Aboriginal people in police, remand, and custodial settings, and explore solutions that support rehabilitation, healing, and harm prevention.

  • Discuss community-led strategies and policy reforms that prioritise care over arrest, protect human rights, and empower communities.


Belinda Foley, Manager, First Nations Team, Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

Tianah McBride, Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer, Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia

Tanya Wells, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Officer, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

Claude Robinson, Manager, The Rainbow Lodge Program

Ivan Clarke, Founding Director, Wiimpatja

Sarah Corrigan, Chair and NSW Director, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA)

CONTACT US

Level 12, 2 Bulletin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: +61 2 8378 4334
Email Us

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Aventedge acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Queensland  Olympic & Paralympic
Queensland  Olympic & Paralympic
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