joyce joyce

JOYCE

"Don't dwell on what they say, dwell on what you want to do, what you want to be."

Joyce is a Yorta Yorta woman from Northern Victoria. She is a proud mother of three children and quite a few grandchildren. Joyce is incredibly involved in all aspects of foster care through VACCA (the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency), taking in her granddaughter over thirteen years ago. Although, if she really thinks back, she has been unofficially involved for twenty years or so.

"Prior to fostering our granddaughter, we had numerous street kids that our children would bring home. On many occasions we would feed them and clothe them, just take them in for three or four days, maybe a month. Just help them out. That opened our eyes to the need for care of children." Joyce and her partner Graham have been looking after indigenous children ever since, they are up to number forty-two. "We don't want any of them lost in a system where they won't have any contact with their parents again or their people. So we need to keep them as secure and safe as possible."

Raising her children with a strong sense of their family history and culture, she is proud of their sense of self today. "I enforced it on my children to believe in themselves and recognise who they are. They were so strong with it, they became Aboriginal dancers. They led the MOOMBA parades for five or six years and they continue to dance and teach and work with the Aboriginal community throughout Melbourne. My daughter helps people trace their family trees."

It hasn't always been easy for Joyce, despite being raised by a strong mother from whom she draws strength and inspiration. "I had a bit of a run with alcohol and drugs in my hey-day but I have overcome them. My first marriage was a disaster through domestic violence. I was hospitalised for three months, all my ribs were broken. I began a life in Queensland, living with my sister but I didn't want to bring her any upset, so I moved into a women's refuge and I never looked back. I saved, got a house, got myself on my feet and met Graham. I got my self-esteem back. Don't ever be afraid to ask for help, to put your kids in foster care, to sort yourself out."

"I went back to school. I did my Associate Diploma in the Applied Science of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Welfare. I studied for two years full-time. And that's when I found out about the true identity of my people. I found out who I was and what my people went through. Growing up with mum and dad, they sort of sheltered us. I remember being called names at school because of the colour of my skin. I guess that's the strength mum and dad gave us. Don't dwell on what they say, dwell on what you want to do, what you want to be."

Joyce also works with the Broadmeadows Koori Court, a less intimidating but no less serious court procedure, as a respected person. She also spends a lot of time at The Gathering place in Maribyrnong. She takes her kids along to the playgroup and meets other mums, sharing parental advice.

It doesn't appear that Joyce and her partner will be slowing down any time soon. At a recent family gathering, relatives commented on how well she looked. "It must be the kids, they give me the energy."

Women's Health West

JOYCE

"Don't dwell on what they say, dwell on what you want to do, what you want to be."