Aunty Kathy takes top honour for changing outcomes for Aboriginal children
Wesley Mission’s Aunty Kathy Donnelly has been named the 2025 Deadly Advocate of the Year, one of NSW’s most significant recognitions for leadership in advancing the rights and wellbeing of Aboriginal children, young people and families.
Presented by AbSec, the peak body advocating for Aboriginal children and families in NSW, the award celebrates individuals who are driving real, measurable change across mainstream systems such as child protection, education, health and justice.
Aunty Kathy was selected for her powerful role in reshaping how Wesley Mission supports Aboriginal children and families, ensuring cultural respect, trauma awareness and lived experience are embedded across services statewide.
As Reconciliation Action Lead at Wesley Mission, Aunty Kathy has led reforms that have strengthened cultural safety and improved outcomes for Aboriginal families.
Her work includes:
- Being instrumental in the development of Wesley Mission’s Reconciliation Action Plan
- Embedding culturally informed practice across Out of Home Care, Family Preservation, Disability Services and OOSH programs
- Delivering cultural awareness training to staff, carers and partner organisations across NSW
- Establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group to influence policy and cultural practice
- Increasing employment opportunities for identified Aboriginal roles and building leadership pathwaysSupporting staff to understand the ongoing impacts of trauma and work in ways that build trust and respect with Aboriginal families
These changes have helped strengthen organisational culture at Wesley Mission in profound and positive ways, strengthen relationships with communities and critically, improve the experience of Aboriginal children and families accessing support.
Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, says Aunty Kathy’s work has been widely recognised as setting a new benchmark for cultural integrity and system reform grounded in truth-telling, cultural strength and long-term change.
Kathy Donnelly was selected for her powerful role in reshaping how Wesley Mission supports Aboriginal children and families.
“Aunty Kathy has changed how we listen to Aboriginal families, how we design services and how we ensure cultural respect is embedded at every level. This recognition reflects the deep impact of her leadership across Wesley Mission and the sector.”
Aunty Kathy said the award honours the strength of the families and communities she works alongside.
“Our children carry the strength of our past and the promise of our future. My work is about ensuring their voices are heard, their culture respected and their families supported not as add-on but as the foundation.
