Emma Griggs – New South Wales

Emma is a proud Wiradjuri Woman. Her journey has been a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs. Growing up on Gadigal/Bidjigal Land, descending from a tiny town in central western NSW, her family’s story was deeply affected by the Stolen Generation. This brought trauma to Emma’s family, impacting generations. By 14, she was homeless and out of school. However, by 21, Emma was determined to change her path, reconnect with her family, and begin rebuilding her life.

With little education beyond Year 9, Emma was fortunate to secure an administration role in the NSW Police Force, where she found support and mentorship. She completed a secretarial course and later moved to work for NSW Ambulance. There, management encouraged her to pursue further education, leading to diplomas in Counselling, and Certificate IVs in both Mental Health, and Alcohol and Other Drugs.

Now 45, Emma teaches Community Services at TAFE and Applied Aboriginal Studies at Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative and is currently training to be an Adult Literacy Numeracy teacher. Her journey from hardship to education has filled her life with purpose, allowing her to mentor and empower others in her community.