HEATHER McGregor is an astute and accomplished social policy maker who has invested her two decade career into ensuring the education needs of indigenous students are met.
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In 2019, when she was overlooked for a seat at the table in a major review of Aboriginal education, Heather realised a defining moment had arrived.
It would either make, or break her. Fortunately, the path to defeat was not an option and Heather took a risk to ensure her voice could be heard.
She is now the director of First Nations Student Success at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie.
Her role, and teams, work across the university campuses and online to support First Nations students.
Previously, she was a head of skills team in TAFE NSW for Innovative Manufacturing, Robotics and Science, Creative and Design Ideation.
Heather shared her experienced on an International Women's Day (IWD) panel with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council CEO Dr Clare Allen and Commonwealth and Olympic boxer Shelley Watts.
The theme for IWD this year is Choose to Challenge.
It came down like a tonne of bricks on me in terms of suddenly feeling I was invisible - the fact I could get to such a senior level as an indigenous woman and be made to not count was saying to me you do not matter.
- Heather McGregor
"At that time I had worked 19 years in indigenous education in both statewide and regional roles. I had completed a masters in indigenous social policy and was overseeing a team of several hundred people," Heather explained.
"I felt like I was established in my career at that time. There was a statewide gathering in Sydney and talk of a review of Aboriginal education. I felt excited I could draw on my experience and have a voice.
"I was at a table and a non-Aboriginal lady was talking about how this review was going to unfold. She looked straight over the top of my head and announced all the membership of this review committee."
Heather was not among them.
"It came down like a tonne of bricks on me in terms of suddenly feeling I was invisible - the fact I could get to such a senior level as an indigenous woman and be made to not count was saying to me you do not matter.
"It was a defining moment for me in my career. I went home a little rejected about my whole value system, my integrity, what it meant to me in terms of balancing my career with broader things in life."
Heather was walking on Lighthouse Beach not long after and someone had written in the sand - RUOK?
Writing with her big toe, Heather replied "no".
"I felt like I was at the point of a life changing decision," she said.
It was the point at which she decided to take back control and set a new career path.
"As a mother you feel like you're disrupting your child, as a wife you are potentially compromising your husband's career, as a daughter leaving a disabled mother potentially to move from Port Macquarie - I had all these conflicting feelings.
"At the time I thought I was a coward running away but in hindsight, it has been anything but that."
In her new role with CSU, she has implemented initiatives to challenge the barriers faced by indigenous people from the processes involved in decision making to how information is shared.
"Owning that story and putting it into practice has been the lesson for me.
"What I've learned in life is to take what you can from your own story. Life throws challenges at you but with almost anything that happens, you can draw strength from it."
It's really important for women to remember you can do it yourself. You have the strength within you - it's there, you just have to find it.
- Shelley Watts
For Shelley Watts, who became the first female boxing Commonwealth gold medallist within five years of throwing her first punch, strength is found within.
"It's really important for women to remember you can do it yourself. You have the strength within you - it's there, you just have to find it."
She said learning from experience is invaluable.
"We need to teach young kids it's OK to make mistakes. It's not OK to not have a go."
Dr Clare Allen generational decision making is crucial in ensuring communities are equipped for the future. That decision-making must include the voices of younger people and they must be heard.
"There are real issues, find out what they are and see what you can do. It will make you a much richer person," Dr Allen said.
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