Debbie is a proud Gamilaraay yinarr, with maternal ancestry from the Bull, Colebull, and Balding families, and paternal connections to the Haynes, Lawrie, and Coleman families across Wirangu, Mirning, and Yuwaalaraay Country. Her work in psychology, psychotherapy, and trauma is grounded within her early beginnings of learning about advocacy and knowledges of community and family strengths. Debbie holds an Honours and Master of Clinical Psychology, registration with AHPRA, Gestalt Australia New Zealand, Australian Indigenous Psychology Association and College of Indigenous Healing Practices and is a registered Clinical Psychotherapist with PACFA. Deb is undertaking her PhD at Melbourne University, evaluating the "Walking in Blak Traks; Embedding the SEWB into Clinical Practices" cultural training, which she co-developed and delivered across NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Psychological and Specialist Services.
Her first publication, "The Effectiveness of Trauma-Based Therapies for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Children in Out-of-Home Care," was published in the Lowitja Journal in May 2025. Deb advocates for the power of community-led healing and the urgency of truth-telling. Her work is a collaborative effort to create a future where our children’s voices are heard, valued, and protected. Through her PhD efforts, she is committed to fostering meaningful change for young people, families, and communities impacted by family policing system. Her focus is on prioritising Indigenous models of wellness to support the development of strong cultural identities and enhance social and emotional wellbeing. Central to this commitment is strengthening a sense of belonging to Country and strongly advocating for the understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing which allow community to self-determine and flourish. Grounded by her beginnings, she is committed to transformative approaches that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, centring Social and Emotional Wellbeing frameworks of self-determination, and collective flourishing.