Welcome to Sophie…. who has a long list of qualifications, experience, and professional and personal relationships with many Indigenous communities nationally.

 

Sophie has academic qualifications as a Veterinarian, in Indigenous Education, and in Public Health. She has worked in the field in pet education programs in urban, rural and remote Indigenous communities.

 

She worked as an independent contractor for AVA and RSPCA (NSW) running multi-school pet education programs in towns with high levels of Indigenous students, including Bourke, Brewarina, Engonnia, Grifffith, Walgett, Collarenebri, Coonamble, and Dubbo. Sophie has undertaken Indigenous education program development for RSPCA (QLD), Safe Pets Out There (SPOT) NSW, and the University of Wollongong. More recently Sophie has been involved in designing, implementing and coordinating community education and training programs in rural and remote Indigenous communities around Australia including Tiwi Islands NT, Ti Tree NT, Bidyadanga WA, and Yarrabah Qld. This work has been underpinned by as much community participation as possible in terms of consultation, decision making, design of programs and resources, production of resources, and evaluation. 

 

Sophie has also been involved in dog health and education programs including Bamaga Qld, Yuendumu NT, and Walgett NSW.

 

Sophie brings a huge amount of valuable knowledge (especially on matters such as getting your 4wD out of a bog!!- see below) to the position and an understanding of the relationship between Indigenous people and their dogs, and the issues facing communities. Sophie's PhD, Vet Science is on "Approaches to sharing dog caring knowledges to support health and welfare in Australian indigenous communities" through the University of Sydney. Her other qualifications include work towards a Masters of International Public Health, Masters Educational Studies, a Grad Cert Indigenous Education and a Bachelor Veterinary Science. Phew!!!!! 

 

Her published papers include “For the Love of Dog: The Human-Animal Bond in Rural and Remote Australian Indigenous Communities.” “Healing the Hand that Feeds You: Exploring Solutions for Dog and Community Health and Welfare in Australian Indigenous Cultures” , and “The Development of Best Practice Adult Educational Programs to Indigenous People in Rural and Remote Communities”.

 

Sophie has been the Junior Vice President of AMRRIC for the past few years.

 

Sabina is a mining engineer currently working in the field of management consulting. She is a West Australian through and through as she was born in Norseman before then living in other glamorous locations such as Wiluna and then the relative civilisation of Kalgoorlie. Her family moved to Perth in time for her high schooling. In her early twenties she returned to Kalgoorlie and worked in the mining industry for a few years before studying Mining Engineering at the WA School of Mines. She has since had a varied career working in operational and management roles in various parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory and these days primarily works in Perth. In 2008 Sabina completed an MBA at UWA.

Sabina and her extended family have always had numerous dogs of various descriptions usually from different pounds around the place. She sponsors three dogs with Soi Dog Foundation (www.soidog.org) in Phuket and locally supports Sue at ‘Poundwatch’ in Perth (www.poundwatch.com.au). Sabina has been President of ‘Stop Live Exports’ (aka PACAT) in Fremantle for the last few years. As part of this role she has successfully received grants in 2005 and 2007 for use in “Debunking the Myths of Live Export” from Voiceless – The Animal Protection Unit (www.voiceless.org.au).Sabina is also on the Executive for Animals Australia (www.animalsaustralia.org) as the WA representative and Treasurer.

 

In 2003 Sabina started WIMWA (Women in Mining and Resources WA) (www.womeninmining.com) which is a networking group for women in the resources sector. This group now has some 1000 members and in 2009 held a one day seminar for the first time. At this seminar 250 people had the opportunity to hear Julia Hardaker speak about “Giving Back to the Community – Julia’s journey and the AMRRIC story”. This inspiring story was very well received by the audience.