James is a Yorta Yorta/Bangerang man who is currently employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Community Elders Service. James’ previous employment was as Chief Executive Officer of the Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative and as Manager of Koorie Education with the Department of Education and Training.
James has a great deal of organisational experience and has served on Boards at a state and national level.
James has been a VACCA Board Member for 19 years. He was one of the founding members of the first Victorian Aboriginal Youth Advisory Committee and a participant in the Koorie Leadership Program.
Deal Roberts is a proud descendant of the Bundjalung and Dunghutti Nations in New South Wales. Deal has over 20 years experience in various senior leadership positions in roles within the Aboriginal Housing, Aged Care, Local Land Council arenas. Deal’s current role is as Chief Executive Officer of Ngambaga Bindarry Girrwaa Community Services based in Bowraville on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales which delivers and implements Aged Care and Disability services.
Deal is passionate about influencing change, collaborating and engage in developing long lasting pillars of change that will safeguard current and future Elders to live a quality of life. Deal has been on several committees in the past but have decided to make a full commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders to advocate for better aged care supports, inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to be on par with the wider community.
Deal’s current and future aim is to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to be prepared and have business acumen so that they remain sustainable and viable into the future.
Rachel Atkinson is a proud Yorta Yorta woman who is dedicated to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
She is a qualified Social Worker with over 25 years’ experience as CEO of large community-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations delivering health, and child and family services. She has been the CEO of Palm Island Community Company since its incorporation in 2007 and has overseen its growth to become the largest non-government service provider and employer on Palm Island.
Ms Atkinson is the current Co-Chair of the Queensland First Children and Families Board, Co-Chair of Family Matters Queensland, Board Director of SNAICC and Deputy Chairperson of Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council. She is a previous Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak and CEO of Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service.
Natasha McCormack is an Arrernte, Warumungu, Alawa (NT) and Kija (WA) woman with strong ties to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) through both her mother and father.
With multiple qualifications and over 20 years’ experience in governance, policy, advocacy, community development, social justice and organisational systems change, Natasha’s career spans the commercial, government and non-government sectors. Having lived and worked in both urban and remote regions of the Northern Territory, she has a lived experience of the systemic issues and ongoing impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal people, and the barriers to accessing essential services when living remotely.
A wife, mother of five, postgraduate student, netball coach and founder of her own cultural consultancy business, Natasha joined the Purple House as Co-Deputy CEO in July 2024. Natasha’s passion to enable and inspire positive change is the driving force behind her commitment to supporting the development of people, policies and organisational change. She is excited to have joined the Purple House family, both to learn from its success and to contribute to its future growth.
Tracey Dillon, is a Badtjala woman from Kgari (Fraser Island), comes with over 30 years of experience in the aged care sector, advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities both in Queensland and nationally. In 1994, Tracey co-founded Dhali Aboriginal Care and Kalang Home and Community Care in Hervey Bay and the Fraser Coast. Tracey then worked in the Department of Health in Brisbane and Canberra, helping Indigenous organisations comply with the Aged Care Act.
As a public servant, Tracey supported Indigenous organisations locally and nationally in navigating aged care policies. Over the past 16 years, Tracey served as CEO of several Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, leading aged care programs. Additionally, Tracey has advocated for Aboriginal women’s rights, particularly in family violence and superannuation issues, and addressed substance misuse as the CEO of two peak bodies.
Tracey holds a degree in Social Science and has served on various boards. Tracey is currently the Chairperson of the Weetapoona Aboriginal Corporation in Tasmania. Based in Lutruwita/Trowunna (Tasmania), Tracey plans to continue her advocacy work with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council, ensuring Indigenous perspectives are central to aged care policy and practice.