Aunty Eva Jo Edwards

Aunty Eva Jo Edwards has spent much of her adult life rediscovering and engaging again in the culture she lost as a child.

After being taken at 5 years old Eva Jo spent the rest of her childhood in State care, splintered from much of her family but emerging as a determined young woman who found work, reconnected with her family and has never stopped exploring her Aboriginal heritage. Eva Jo’s tenacity has seen her become a cultural educator who employs performance and public speaking as well as managerial, administrative and teaching skills in her diverse working life.

For the past 20 years Eva Jo, along with her cousin/uncle Kutcha Edwards, ran education workshops titled Banyip Kidjeka (brother/sister) which has led to Eva Jo receiving regular guest speaking roles in both the education and corporate sectors. She also offers Aboriginal cultural sessions at schools, libraries and festivals and most recently has been presenting Aboriginal Story Time as a cultural introduction for the very young.

A milestone in her life was February 13th 2008 when she travelled to Canberra for The Apology to the Stolen Generations where she had a seat in Parliament and met the Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd. A picture of Eva Jo with Mr Rudd appeared the next day on the front page of the Financial Review.

As a member of the Stolen Generations, Eva Jo has been actively involved in the reconciliation process and has been employed in many vital areas of work including the Justice System, Aboriginal Child Health Services, Link Up, with Stolen Generations Victoria, the Koorie Night Markets and Project Co-ordinator at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Minajalku Healing Centre. In 2016, Eva Jo joined Connecting Home, an organisation who attempt to connect Stolen Generations people with their families. She is also working alongside the State Govt on issues relating to the Stolen Generations and is currently back working in a managerial capacity with VACCA.