Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy
Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin is a Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin Nation.
Born in Healesville, Aunty Joy’s family never left Wurundjeri land and she is the great-great niece to William Barak, the last traditional Ngurungaeta of the Wurundjeri-willam clan.
In 2002 she was awarded the Victorian Aboriginal Women's Award for being involved with Aboriginal Issues for thirty years. In 2006 she was made an officer of the Order of Australia "for her service to the community, particularly the Aborigines, through significant contributions in the fields of social justice, land rights, equal opportunity, art and reconciliation".
Other roles she has include:
- an honorary Professor at Swinburne University,
- Chair of the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development at the Victorian College of the Arts University of Melbourne,
- Board member of Fraynework Multimedia (Sisters of Mercy),
- Co-Patron for Keeping Koori Kids in Catholic Education and
- Patron for Parliament of World Religions.
Aunty Joy is also an Ambassador for BreastScreen Victoria, Australia Day Victoria and an Animis Ambassador for Zoos Victoria.
In the past she has been a trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria, a member of the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria, a member of the Victoria Police Ethical Standards Consultative Committee.
She has given the traditional welcome to country greeting at many Melbourne events and to many distinguished visitors.
In 2002 Aunty renamed our Indigenous Liaison Unit to Ngarn-gi Bagora Indigenous Centre. Ngarn-gi Bagora means place of learning in the Woi-wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people.
In 2015, Aunty Joy was appointed as inaugural University Elder for La Trobe University.