Aunty (Dr) Lynette Riley

Aunty (Dr) Lynette Riley is Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee.

Aunty (Dr) Lynette Riley is a Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman from Dubbo and Moree she is an Associate Professor and Chair of Aboriginal Education and Indigenous Studies, in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney. Aunty Lyn trained as a primary teacher through Armidale CAE from 1975-1977. She has been a classroom teacher in primary and high school; a consultant for schools; an Aboriginal Development Manager for TAFE; Manager of the Dubbo TAFE Campuses; State Manager for NSW DET, Aboriginal Education; and a senior lecturer at UNE and Sydney University. Aunty Lyn seeks to find solutions creating sustainable change for Aboriginal programs, entwining understandings through knowledge of cultural education and competence.

What does NAIDOC mean to you?

It means for me to maintain what our Elders started over 50 years; and is an opportunity to educate the wider community about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to celebrate our heritage and culture in public forums.