Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this site contains the names, images, and voices of people now passed and resting in the Dreaming.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; our First Nations people and we pay respect to our wisdom holders, all Elders, past present and emerging.
We honour the Stolen Generations, we acknowledge the impact that colonisation has had and the ripple effect through the First Nations people of this land, their communities & their traditions. We acknowledge the courage and strength it has taken to continually strive forward for cultural safety; reclaiming their sovereignty, their voice and their safety to practice their culture and speak their language in connection with their Ancestors and original traditions.
We acknowledge and extend our respect to Elder's past, present and emerging of all traditions that share this beautiful land.
We acknowledge the courage and heart that it will take as we walk forward together to participate in the challenging conversations required for change, to face, accept and acknowledge all parts of our shared history. To tell the truth and hear the truth, and the courage it will take to validate the experiences of our First Nations people as we hold each other, to heal with great respect as we co-create a culturally safe, inclusive and wonderous place to live.
Copyright © Mel Armstrong
About Mel
The Stolen generation — reconnection of lineage
Mel, also known as Anjani Devi, is a proud First Nations Gomeroi (Aboriginal) woman with Chinese heritage, descendant of the Kim family (Uralla, Armidale, Tamworth, Walcha and Taree), living in The Hunter region of NSW, Australia.
Mel is a healer, mentor, advocate, and international best-selling author. She brings a wealth of spiritual knowledge and practical experience in helping people heal, with 17 years in the Mental Health, Health and Wellness industry, undertaking the same timeframe of spiritual tuition and development of holistic practice.
Mel’s passion has always been advocacy; supporting people to find their voice, to be heard and validated. She employs a strength-based focus on trauma care, cultural safety, inclusive practice, understanding diversity, wellness, mental health, healing, recovery and the integration of change.
Mel was introduced to her family of origin in her early 20s. This sparked a 27-year journey of learning and reconnection.
"Going home to Country, reconnecting with cultural practices, language, lore, healing, and medicine has been a wonderous experience, sitting with and being taught by her family's Senior Elder, a Senior Lore woman, Aunties and Uncles is a priceless and humbling experience".
Mel was a guest panelist and individual presenter at the 2022 National Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing Forum in Darwin, speaking on the panel to empowering survivors and families of suicide.
Mel's individual presentation was speaking on the effects of transgenerational trauma and collaboration in communities to work toward building successful and sustainable futures, encouraging having the difficult conversations, exploring solutions and the obstacles that we each bring to the situations we wish to change.
Mel was invited to present to the Children’s Book Council of Australia in June 2022 about the published collaborative project incorporating healing, connection, identity and Aboriginal language into children’s stories.
In December 2022 until January 2023, Mel exhibited the Story of Mei Kim, (her grandmother) in the exhibition Yellah Fellah. Curated by Catherine Croll at The Manning Regional Art Gallery in Taree the exhibition featured international artists Gary Lee, Damien Shen, Jason Wing, and Caroline Oakley.
“This exhibition explores contemporary Indigenous artists’ unique stories of how they grew up in Australia and were moved to express their own experiences, emotions, self-concepts, strength and joy growing out of their mixed Aboriginal and Chinese heritage.”
As a strong advocate for human rights, Mel speaks to the importance of connection for us to heal; individual sovereignty, cultural safety, validation, being welcomed and included to create the strong communities that we all need to thrive.
The story of Mei Kim
Exhibition: 21 December 2022 to 28 January 2023
The Story of Mei Kim as told by Mel Armstrong formed part of the Yellah Fellah exhibition at Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree NSW. Curated by Catherine Croll.
Internationally accredited artists featured in the Yellah Fellah exhibition were Gary Lee, Damien Shen, Jason Wing, and Caroline Oakley.
This exhibition explored contemporary Indigenous artists’ unique stories of how they grew up in Australia and were moved to express their own experiences, emotions, self-concepts, strength and joy growing out of their mixed Aboriginal and Chinese heritage.
Click image to explore further
This work came to be in the exhibition through a collaboration between Mel and Gill which took more than 2.5 years to come to fruition. Coming together through a family connection and sharing their passion for research made this project a beautiful opportunity for them both to tell story truthfully, highlighting the journey, the reconnections, the beauty and the sorrow. Both were very focused on cultural safety and respecting the ancestors while acknowledging the path they had forged for us.
"Mei Kim my Grandmother, had a Chinese Grandfather and Aboriginal Grandmother on her paternal side and 2 Aboriginal Grandparents on her maternal side - her story shows the history of her family, the merging of the cultures and how they moved across the country in NSW, initially from Gomeroi Country near Pallal/ Bingara, and moving across from Uralla and Rocky River, Tamworth, Walcha (Summervale Mission and Ingelba Mission), eventually settling in Taree through the the time of stolen generation in the 1930's."
Mel Armstrong at the exhibition launch event
L-R: Catherine Croll — Curator, Rachel Piercy — Gallery Director, Gillian Oxley — Genealogical Researcher, Mel Armstrong
Guest presentation and panel discussion
Mel welcomed the experience of connecting with so many community leaders with a common purpose during this event.
"Being given the opportunity to present and contribute in this space to peers has been an absolute priviledge. I presented about Transgenerational Trauma, reflecting on our histories, acknowledging all aspects that have moved us to where we are to support each other and our future generations to lead healthier and more connected lives.
Integrating culture, holistic practices, truth telling and mainstream health needs is a healthier way forward for our people - learning from our wisdom holders, healers, medicine men and women, language holders, bush tucker wisdom, working with the natural world as a normality; not as an aside."
Mel's panel discussion
Creating positive change by sharing the collective strength gained from people with lived experiences.
Empowering lived experiences survivors and supporting them to draw on their insights, to facilitate impactful suicide prevention solutions that drive positive change.
Developing strategies to focus on and support the families, carers and those affected by the loss of a loved one.
Creating a positive understanding for sharing the pain and encouraging survivors to share their story to contribute towards a healthy and sustainable community.
Mel's presentation topic
Collaborating with community to identify and reduce the effects of intergenerational trauma to help future generations lead more successful lives.
Examining the history of collective and cultural abuse and how it can be avoided for future generations.
Understanding the health and social challenges linked to intergenerational trauma.
Building strategies on how to break the cycle within communities for the benefit of future generation.
Image courtesy of event organisers
Star Dreaming launch
Senior Gomeroi Elder, Uncle Neville Sampson, introducing Mel’s story from “Star Dreaming” as a Dream Time story:
“I’m going to read you the story To Fly Though the Stars. This is written by Mel. When I read it, I thought ‘this is so beautiful’. I couldn’t believe how well it was written. And to write a good dreamtime story, is a great thing. Especially in our people, and with our children. And the children loves, our Dream time stories.”
Acknowledging and celebrating important dates
Acknowledging
Sorry Day 2022
Acknowledging
Reconciliation Week 2022
Photos courtesy of Hanumani
"Going home to Country, reconnecting with cultural practices, language, lore, healing, and medicine has been a wonderous experience, sitting with and being taught by her family's Senior Elder, a Senior Lore woman, Aunties and Uncles is a priceless and humbling experience".
Mel Armstrong
Proudly part of the Pride community
Being a part of the rainbow tribe for many years, Mel openly identifies, advocates and supports inclusivity by promoting ongoing education, awareness and the courage to speak.
Being a part of this community is a privilege. Without expectation of expert awareness, there’s a safety and welcome here like no other; every person in the community understands exclusion, expression, courage and growth.
The Progress Pride Flag colours represent:
Red = Life
Orange = Healing
Yellow = New ideas
Green = Prosperity
Blue = Serenity
Violet = Spirit
Black/Brown = First Nations Peoples
White/Blue/Pink = Trans community
Mardi Gras 2014
Quote from "Star Dreaming" published in 2022, a beautiful First Nations children's book
"When you see with your hearts, what you see in others is beautiful, even if they are different to you."
Mel Armstrong
Buy Star Dreaming
Featured guest
on Healing Trauma Down Under
With Yemi Penn and Jennifer Nurick
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An amazing conversation with Mel (Anjani) who shares her transformative journey that is filled
with Indigenous wisdom -
Relax with a cuppa for this 52 minute conversation
Make a booking
Mel's YouTube channel
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Sharing wisdom
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Documenting events
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Conversations with teachers and Elders
Get in touch
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