199. Alison Overeem - Christmastide 2024

Australian Women Preach

Christmastide - John 1:1-18 - Weaving the Word.

In this time of Christmas tide we have decided to revisit a stunning sermon from 3 years ago. I invite you to take this moment: breathe, relax and immerse yourself in the poetics of palawa woman Alison Overeem as she reflects upon the Gospel of John, weaving stories into the flight of butterflies.

Alison Overeem is a proud palawa woman from South-East Tasmania who is driven by culture, family, empowerment and creating safe spaces to build hope and healing. Alison is passionate about raising awareness of Aboriginal culture and history and the rights of women in society. As a result, Alison was a past member of the Tasmanian Women’s Council. While working in aged care at the age of 16, Alison studied for a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and graduated in 1989.

Alison established the Aboriginal Children’s Centre at West Moonah in 1989. As Director of the Aboriginal Children’s Centre from 1989 to 2013, she helped design a state-of-the-art, award-winning, culturally inclusive children’s centre at Risdon Cove. Alison believes she was fortunate to be at the forefront of developing a multifunctional Aboriginal service, the first of its kind in Tasmania. It was, in fact, a precursor to the Child and Family Centres rolled out across Tasmania in recent years.

In 2013, Alison was appointed as the Leprena Manager, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC Tasmania). Alison has been instrumental in broadening Leprena’s engagement, networking and connections. Leprena’s mission is to be the lead provider of cultural and spiritual learning and immersion, uniting First and Second Peoples through Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, and the National UAICC story, across the nation. Leprena promotes a shared learning and unlearning between First and Second Peoples and provides projects and programs in a culturally and spiritually safe space by facilitating gatherings centred on cultural, emotional and social wellness. Leprena also provides training to church communities, not-for-profits, government and non-government organisations and educational groups.

Alison is also heavily involved with multiple advocacy, policy and strategic planning committees. She is a member of the UAICC National Executive, Uniting Care board of Australia, Uniting Church Assembly Standing Committee, Advocate for the Walking Together circle for the National UCA Assembly, co-chair of the UCA Vic Tas Walking Together committee and various others.

Alison has made numerous contributions to publications and resources nationally around culturally inclusive practice models of service delivery for Aboriginal communities. She has also been involved in advocacy and policies impacting social justice movements and climate change.

Alison has a Bachelor of Education and an Advanced Diploma in Management.