Nonprofit Organization · Community Centre · Community Organisation
Callan Bindon
Linguistic Project Manager
Callan started as Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga's linguist in November 2021.
He grew up in Perth, and studied Linguistics and German at UWA (as well as a bit of Computer Science). He is interested in languages of all kinds, and completed his honours focusing on historical linguistics; making computer simulations of lexical diversification between Aboriginal languages in Victoria. He has also done corpus linguistic work on Idi - a language of Papua New Guinea - during a research scholarship at the ANU in late 2019 and early 2020.
When not at work, Callan spends his time working on and riding bicycles, programming computers, trying to learn languages, or working on electronics projects of some kind. He also has a wide variety of aspirational hobbies that he never does, but really likes to think about doing and reckons he'd enjoy.
Nadine Taylor
Language specialist
Nadine has worked at the Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre for more than six years, beginning as a part time member of the centre’s Guest Speaker program, working with Aboriginal Education Officers in local schools.
Later, having been invited to attend a language workshop, Nadine was encouraged to undertake a teacher training course, and was able to incorporate this with a permanent full-time position with the language centre. This allowed her to work with more languages, whilst freeing up staff to keep other important programs running.
A Wajarri and Wilunyu nyarlu (woman), and mother of four, (two boys, two girls) Nadine grew up and lived in the Murchison for many years, travelling between Yalgoo, Mullewa and Murchison stations with her family, wherever her father could find work. She attended Pallottine Mission at Tardun as a young girl, and is grateful for the education.
Nadine recently took a year’s sabbatical and has returned on a part-time basis to help the team work with the nine languages it is facilitating.
Edie Maher
Language Specialist
Language Specialist Edie Maher has been working part time at Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre since 2016, but has supported languages in the region for more than 20 years as a Wajarri language teacher.
As a part of Edie’s role at Bundiyarra, she helps families by researching family connections and helps build their family tree. She also focuses on developing educational language resources and materials.
Edie is a Noongar, Palyku and Nyiybarli woman and grew up on Wajarri country in the Murchison area. She attended Tardun Station Mission and then school in South Fremantle, before attending Curtin University where she received her Bachelor of Education degree.
She is a mother to three girls, one boy and raised another boy. She has eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Edie’s goal at Bundiyarra is to help maintain the nine languages and to support the language teachers using the languages.
Sueraini Simpson
Language Trainee
Sueraini Simpson is a trainee language worker at Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga language centre.
Sueraini started her traineeship at Bundiyarra in May 2020, She has a beautiful two-year-old daughter Zaliyah.
Sueraini is a Wajarri woman from Mullewa and enjoys expanding more of her language knowledge by working at the language centre.
Nola Gregory
Records and Archives
Records and Archives Officer Nola Gregory has been involved with Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre for as long as she can remember.
Nola is a Kija-Bard Woman from Turkey Creek and Beagle Bay and has spent her entire life in Geraldton, where she attended Rangeway Primary School and Geraldton Senior High School.
She recently worked at the City of Greater Geraldton, working to make sure Aboriginal people were included and engaged with the activities of the City. She is also a very talented poet!
She has one daughter of whom she is very proud.
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Sue Chiera
Marketing and Communications
Part time Marketing and Communications officer Sue Chiera has worked at Bundiyarra for about six years, starting with Bundiyarra and returning to work at the language centre after taking a year out to work full time elsewhere.
Sue has an extensive background in journalism and enjoys writing about and promoting the great things that happen at the ‘Good Place’.
She helps coordinate language centre projects and curates the Bundiyarra newsletter (which you can subscribe to on the Contact Us page!)
Sue lives near the beach with her cats and dog.
Jennifer Gregory-Kniveton
Community and Cultural Consultant
Jennifer (Jenni) has worked at Bundiyarra for about the same amount of time it has been around. She's a real institution here!
A Kija-Bard woman, Jenni grew up in Geraldton and has worked all over the state in education and community development.
A strong community leader, Jenni helped facilitate the start of the language centre at Bundiyarra back in 2006.
Jenni lives in Geraldton with her husband Simon (who sometimes doubles as Bundiyarra's volunteer groundskeeper!) and some of her beloved grannies.
She is a mentor and role model for many staff at the language centre and helps ensure Yamaji languages are in the loop on national progress with her position as a Director of First Languages Australia.
Rosie Sitorus
Language Consultant
Rosie Sitorus is Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre's language consultant.
Rosie grew up in Perth and studied at UWA where she received her combined Law/Arts degree, majoring in French and Linguistics. She completed her Honours research at BIW on the topic of Indigenous language policy.
Rosie is a trained musician, playing multiple instruments as well as singing, and loves to work with language communities on writing songs in language.
She likes to focus on supporting the community to reconnect with, learn and speak their language.
She loves dogs, singing and watching political dramas on ABC iView.