About Jody
Jody's story, in Auslan
Story
A proud Birri-Gubba / Urangan Deaf woman from southeast Queensland, Jody has spent over 40 years connecting worlds across language, culture and disability. From her earliest memories of Aboriginal sign language at age four to her work today across courts, communities and research, she brings lived experience and deep cultural knowledge to every conversation.
She founded Deaf Indigenous Community Consultancy in 2007 to focus fully on the needs of First Nations Deaf people and people with disability in communities. Her work spans courts, communities, training rooms and research, in Australia and internationally.
What Jody does
Language Consultant
Jody advises courts, government, services and researchers on how to communicate with First Nations Deaf people. She works out which languages and ways of communicating a person uses, how to work well with interpreters, and how to make information culturally safe and easy to understand.
Senior Deaf Indigenous Interpreter
Since 1997, Jody has worked as a Deaf interpreter alongside hearing interpreters, most often in courts and legal settings. She bridges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sign languages, gesture and home signs, so a person can tell their story in their own way. As a service, this Deaf interpreting work is offered as language consultations and cultural sign language translation.
Timeline: 1986 to 2026
1986
Began voluntary language support and interpreting Aboriginal sign systems to Signed English, Auslan and English for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
1991-2004
Support Service Officer, Interpreter and Deaf Mentor, Department of Education (Myrtleford and Shepparton areas)
2007
Founded Deaf Indigenous Community Consultancy
2011
Bachelor of Applied Management Studies, University of Ballarat
2018
Inaugural Atlantic Senior Fellow for Social Equity, Atlantic Fellows Program (University of Melbourne)
2020
TAC Independent Achiever Award, Aspire Awards, for her advocacy for First Nations people with disability
2020
Winner, National Awards for Disability Leadership
2021
Victorian Honour Roll of Women, for leadership and advocacy for First Nations women with disability
2022
Churchill Fellowship, Victoria (Community Service category)
2022-23
Executive Officer, Koondee Woonga-gat Toor-rong (Victorian First Nations Lead Community Fund)
2024
Public Advocate Award, Victoria
2026
Social Impact Leadership Fellow, Social Impact Leadership Australia
Credentials
- Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD, 2022-23)
- Bachelor of Applied Management Studies, University of Ballarat (2011)
- Churchill Fellow, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (2022)
- Atlantic Senior Fellow for Social Equity (2018)
- Social Impact Leadership Fellow, Social Impact Leadership Australia (2026)
- Victorian Honour Roll of Women (2021)
- TAC Independent Achiever Award, Aspire Awards (2020)
- Winner, National Awards for Disability Leadership (2020)
Projects
- Cervical cancer researchUniversity of New South Wales
- Co-design research on the safety of First Nations women with disability, and continence careNational Disability Research Partnership
- Deaf First Nations SpacesDeaf Connect
- National Indigenous Interpreters ServicesAboriginal Interpreting WA
- Digital design app for Deaf Aboriginal people and custodyCurtin University and the Centre for Inclusive Design
- Training and development projectKarabena Consultancy and the Victorian Disability Worker Commission
Who Jody works with
- Dr Damien Howard
- University of Melbourne
- University of Technology Sydney
- University of New South Wales
- Curtin University
- Deaf Connect
- Deaf Australia
- Centre for Inclusive Design
- Rod Catterall & Associates
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
- Victorian Disability Worker Commission
- Aboriginal Interpreting WA
- Tangata Group (opens in a new tab)
- Rowan University
- Syracuse University
- University of Edinburgh
- National Disability Research Partnership
In community and around the world
United Nations General Assembly, New York 
Global Disability Summit 
Deaf First Nations Spaces, Cultural Revitalization exhibit 
Gallaudet University, Washington DC 
Bina Gurri 
Sociolinguistics Symposium 
The Cairns mob, at the establishment of QIIS (Queensland Indigenous Interpreter Services) 
Saltwater Country