Program speakers

Jane Vadiveloo

CEO – Children’s Ground

Determined to end intergenerational injustice and disadvantage, Jane Vadiveloo is working towards a future where all children, especially First Nations children,  enjoy respect, justice and agency over their lives.  With a master’s degree in forensic psychology, Jane has lived and worked with First Nations communities in the NT for over 30 years, establishing strength and justice-based approaches to achieve systemic and long-term change. 

In 2000, Jane and the Arrernte people in Central Australia co-founded Akeyulerre, one of the first organisations based on First Nations knowledge systems in traditional healing and wellbeing in Australia. Through work and direction of Elders and community leaders, Jane co-founded Children’s Ground, a systems change organisation that privileges First Nations knowledge and practice. It is a 25-year approach led by communities who have vision and solutions but experience unacceptable trauma and disadvantage because of social, cultural and economic injustice. It is designed for the next generations of First Nations children to have the right to determine their future and enjoy economic, political, social and cultural wellbeing.   

Jane has consulted to Virgin Unite, the Northern Territory and Federal Governments, and Aboriginal Organisations in the Northern Territory. Jane was also one of the Westpac Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence in 2014 and Children’s Ground received the Outstanding Achievement in Innovation award at the NT Education and Care Awards in 2021.