Sandra Van Diermen

Sandra Van Diermen

Community Engagement Coordinator

sandra.vandiermen@thekids.org.au

+61 420 799 795

Sandra is a staunch advocate for Aboriginal children and families and has worked tirelessly to create positive change in policy affecting Aboriginal families and communities.

Sandra has a background in child protection as a trainer/facilitator, providing cultural competency training and child protection train the trainer programs, facilitating workshops and conferences, and delivering staff development to the early childhood sector. Sandra has extensive community engagement experience in both South Australia and the Northern Territory Aboriginal communities and is interested in researching the development of children, particularly children who do not reside with their biological parents but are not within the child protection system.

Sandra is from the Yawarrawarrka People of the Cooper Basin and Western Arrernte Peoples of Central Australia, in addition to having a paternal lineage to the Cameleers who came to Australia as camel handlers. As a traditional custodian of the Cooper Basin, Sandra has wide-ranging cultural obligation and responsibilities to her community and country with a particular focus on healing and preserving country in collaboration with neighbouring First Nations and SANTOS.