Pip called me a couple of times from the Northern Territory and we soon discovered we had a lot of common in terms of our ideas and interests. I am certainly fascinated by what Pip and her family are doing. I can see why Carlie made her recommendation.
Anyway, welcome aboard, Pip, and I look forward to some exciting collaborations in the years to come. And I can't wait to come up and meet you and your lovely family and see what you are doing.
'Pip had an ‘epiphany moment’ when she realised the profound depth of knowledge held by Indigenous healing perspectives. Whilst studying for a Diploma in Community Recovery / Indigenous Studies, she also found her own sense of health and wellbeing gently facilitated. She came to understand how broader Australia lacked insight into addressing such societal issues as trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety and isolation.
Pip’s had been immersed in the corporate world - Professional Recruitment, business management, marketing and sales - but her attention now turned to community engagement and development.
She became a co-founder of the WOW (Women Of the World) group in Coffs Harbour in 2011. WOW was established locally to bring women of all ages and cultures together to explore ways that connect community under the shared values of Honour, Respect, Connection, Courage and Empowerment.
Pip established a Social Enterprise, The Gathering Tree, as a collaboration hub for promoting projects brought to life out of the connections made through WOW. She helped empower other women to establish their own socially-focused businesses.
In early 2014, Pip and her husband - and their two school-aged children - made the decision to step out of the ‘safety net’ of permanent employment to follow ‘their dreaming’ of travelling and working purposefully around Australia.
Their intention is to ‘listen and learn’ from the expansiveness of this country and to the wisdom held by many Elders of all backgrounds. To be the change they would like to see. Pip is specifically interested in exploring the universal need for Connection and a sense of Belonging.
Pip’s journey has led to rich connections, including a friendship with Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann, a well-respected Elder, educator and deeply spiritual leader from Nauiyu Community, Daly River, Northern Territory. Pip and Miriam have brought together women, men and children in Circle, to connect in their commonalities and explore what it means ‘to belong’. This is a gateway to deep personal and community healing… this is Reconciliation at work.
Pip and Miriam are currently working together on a short film that explores ‘Dadirri’. This Aboriginal concept of acknowledges the spiritual health of all human beings, separate to that of religion, which is closely connected to nature and a sense of belonging and living purposefully in community.
Pip has experience facilitating Yarning Circles in collaboration with local Gumbayngirr Elder, Aunty Bea Ballangarry, in a diverse range of settings, including Women’s Health Centres, Aged Care, Health and Community Organisations.
Since being in the Northern Territory, Pip has been holding Circles in a Drug and Rehabilitation Centre, as well as supporting organisations to introduce the concepts of ‘Sitting in Circle’ as a way to bring people from diverse backgrounds together to connect in commonality. This has included the Stolen Generation Katherine Inc, Katherine Regional Aboriginal Health Services and other Community Health-based organisations.
Through the healing approach she has learnt, Pip aims to support people find their OWN way back to ‘deep inner listening’, self-reflection and purpose, and find their own sense of connection and belonging. She is excited by the prospect of using Sharing Culture as a way of increasing awareness of this healing model at a grassroots level.'