Rosie Bell is a powerful and credible voice with wise ideas. She is an Aboriginal woman from the Quandamooka region on

Stradbroke Island.

 

For the past 20 years she’s worked with young people and their families helping them achieve independence and reach their goals and aspirations.

 

She’s been doing this work at YFS since 2009 as an Early Intervention Mental Health Case Manager with the Burrabilly team, now part of the Step by Step program.

 

Based on her experience and the work she does at YFS, Rosie was invited to participate in one of a national series of roundtables convened around the country by The University of Western Australia (UWA), in partnership with the Telethon Kids Institute, to discuss critical issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community suicide prevention needs.

 

“Sometimes I get to be the voice, like at this roundtable. I felt empowered and thankful for a great experience. I enter into jobs with purpose of service. My whole goal in life is service: service to my family and service to my community.”

 

Her voice made it to national television after being interviewed by the ABC about youth suicide rates among the Indigenous population and her participation in the roundtable discussion back in March 2014.

 

Rosie was eager to tell her story. But she knows it’s not only hers. It’s actually the story of a whole community; of vulnerable young people that experience uncertainty every day and require support and advocacy. She was their voice.

 

That same voice comes to work at YFS every day.

 

“Families need to be supported to be strong. We need to put support into building resilience into our children in schools.We need to walk with them, so they can stand tall and arise out of their difficulties."

 

“Our approach is effective. We will always look for effective strategies in working in community.”

 

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