We are HER STORY
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We are HER STORY •
Meet our Co-Founders
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Meet our Co-Founders •
Dr Chay Brown
Dr Chay Brown is born and raised in Mparntwe Alice Springs. She has been researching violence against women for over a decade and works closely with Aboriginal women’s groups in the Northern Territory to prevent family violence.
Chay has lived experience of domestic, family, and sexual violence and regularly speaks as a survivor-advocate to inform policy responses and drive change. Chay’s doctoral research explored what works to prevent violence against women in the Northern Territory, which led to the development of a Northern Territory specific violence prevention framework.
Chay was also the project lead on research exploring experiences of technology-facilitated abuse among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in regional and remote areas and she was the lead author of the ‘Rante rante ampe Marle and Urreye’ Research Report – the first evaluation of primary prevention projects in the Northern Territory. Chay also worked on Australia's National Plan to end violence against women and children 2022-2032, and the Global Shared Research Agenda for research on violence against women in low-and middle-income countries.
Chay has previously worked in community development in East Africa with a focus on supporting families after HIV diagnosis as well as in safe houses and for anti-trafficking organisations in Southeast Asia, supporting women who have survived sex trafficking.
Kayla Glynn-Braun
Kayla Glynn-Braun is a proud First Nations Wiradjuri Woman from New South Wales and has lived in Australia’s Northern Territory for over a decade with her darling husband Kenny.
Kayla’s family ties come from a small mission called (Erambie Mission). A mission near Cowra. Her great great grandfather lived there with his family until he had to move into Cowra: a small town in Central Western New South Wales as they were working as drovers.
Kayla’s grandfather was stolen from there and taken to Kinchela boy’s home where he remained until he was 18 years of age. He never returned to the Mission or Cowra because of the discrimination he experienced.
Kayla's family struggled but were lucky enough to still have her ties to culture and Nana Shirl (also known as Mum Shirl), who shared stories about her kinship ties. Kayla's family's saying is “first love yourself, then spread it around". Kayla says “we knew we were not just flora and fauna. We were special and going to make a difference in our world. We knew our path and I had the privilege and dis-privilege of growing up in a black radical household and everything that comes along with it, good or bad."
Kayla has seen firsthand the impacts are on colonisation on First Nation people and has lived experience with violence, poverty, and the ‘justice' system.
Kayla has worked within the community and housing sector for over a decade and has worked in frontline services responding to domestic, family, and sexual violence. Kayla is particularly passionate about the critical and urgent need for Australia to address violence perpetrated against First Nations women.
Kayla holds a Diploma in Leadership and Management, Diploma in Business, and Diploma in Property Services in Real Estate.
Chay and Kay founded Her Story in Mparntwe Alice Springs.
Friends first, sisters always.
“Her Story was founded because we saw gaps, inequalities, and injustices within existing systems, and we believe that through empowering women, children, and gender-diverse people we can drive a powerful change in the world. We love our home and we want to listen and share the unheard stories of the amazing women and gender-diverse people who also call this place their home. We believe in fun, bringing people together, challenging ourselves and others to fearlessly push positive change forward."