A Message from Our CEO

As you may be aware, Deadly Connections Community & Justice Services Ltd has been operating as a fully women-led organisation since 2024, and as a women-focused Aboriginal organisation since September last year.

We are now writing to formally advise that our legal name has changed to Wundirra Community & Consultancy Services Ltd.

The name Wundirra is a Wiradjuri word meaning “to stand in one’s own light.” For our organisation, this name carries deep significance. It reflects the strength, dignity, wisdom and leadership of Aboriginal women, children, families and communities to stand in their truth, reclaim their stories, exercise self-determination and shape their own futures.

This name change reflects the direction we have already been implementing in practice: a strengthened focus on Aboriginal women, children and young people, grounded in culture, lateral love, integrity, matriarchal leadership, community-led healing, justice and self-determination.

Over the past eight years, Deadly Connections has delivered community-led justice initiatives, culturally grounded healing programs, advocacy, capacity building and systems reform alongside Aboriginal families, children and young people impacted by violence, incarceration, child removal and complex systems.

We are proud of the depth and impact of this work. However, our lived and professional experience — and the consistent voices of the women we walk alongside — have made it clear that the current service system is not adequately responding to the safety, healing and self-determination needs of Aboriginal women, children and families navigating violence, systemic harm, colonial load, structural inequity and the ongoing impacts of systemic racism.

In response, Wundirra is intentionally shifting from a predominantly frontline service model towards a stronger focus on capacity building, consultancy, training, community development and systems change. While direct support remains part of our work, we know that sustainable change requires strengthening the wider sector so that organisations, practitioners and institutions are better equipped to meet the needs of our people. Our aim is to ensure culturally grounded, trauma-informed, accountable and community-led approaches are not the exception, but the standard.

At the heart of this transition is our commitment to transformative justice, healing-centred engagement and matriarchal leadership in accordance with our culture. These approaches recognise that lasting change cannot be achieved through punitive or deficit-based responses alone, but through strengthening culture, relationships, accountability, connection, community responsibility and self-determination.

Since September, we have formally centred our work on:

• women-centred information, referrals, advocacy and support through a navigation phone support line;
• culturally grounded healing and wellness initiatives;
• survivor-led training, consultancy, co-design and systems engagement;
• leadership development and professional pathways for women and girls, with Aboriginal women being a priority;
• capacity building, community development and bespoke cultural programs that strengthen sector and system responses for Aboriginal women and children.

Our ABN, governance structure and core commitment to justice, healing, advocacy and systems reform remain unchanged. This transition is not a departure from our purpose — it is a deepening of it.

Please note that the name change transition will occur progressively over the coming months as we update registrations, systems, agreements, branding and communications. During this period, you may see both names referenced while administrative changes are finalised. We will work directly with stakeholders and partners to ensure all documentation is updated smoothly and without disruption.

We value your continued partnership and look forward to working together under this next chapter as Wundirra Community & Consultancy Services Ltd.

Should you require further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Kind regards,