‘Being a young woman has its own challenges and its own frameworks and then you add Aboriginality on that and you just get another layer of challenge but also opportunity.’
Young, female, Aboriginal and a lawyer. Krista Dunstan has at times been looked down upon for being some or all of these identities; yet these are the qualities that work together to form the incredible person of influence and leadership Krista is today.
Born into a challenging family setting, Krista decided at age 11 she wanted to pursue law to make a difference in the lives of people who didn’t have a voice.
On her life journey she says, “Being a young woman has its own challenges and its own frameworks and then you add Aboriginality on that and you just get another layer of challenge but also opportunity.”
It’s her ability to see challenges through the lens of opportunity that Krista has persisted to where she is today, now working with the Aboriginal Lands Trust Estate to transition land back to Aboriginal ownership and control.
A proud Noongar woman who is driven to make a change within the indigenous community of Australia, Krista’s influential role in turning Aboriginal stories into positive outcomes and working towards the goal where, ‘All Aboriginal people feel proud of who they are’ drives her to continue believing in the process of change and transformation.
Krista is the first to admit today her CV looks like the perfect story yet she wants others to know the reality of arriving where she is involved many struggles, battling with self-limiting beliefs, imposter syndrome as well as pushing boundaries and embarking on a journey to understand and learn all that she could about the Aboriginal community she belongs to.
IN KRISTA’S WORDS
“I knew I’d always been treated a bit differently for identifying as Aboriginal.”
“I want aboriginal people to feel proud of who they are.”
“Self-limiting beliefs is something that’s really rife in our community.”
“Being a young woman has its own challenges and its own frameworks and then you add Aboriginality on that and you just get another layer of challenge but also opportunity.”
“I’ve continued to push those boundaries and push back on those perceptions that people have of you, or those limitations people try to place on you.”
Her advice to those looking at the world and recognising it as a big, daunting, challenging and complex space:
“1. Never give up”
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Keep pushing through those challenges and take them as positives where you can.
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Be kind to yourself
“2. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.”
“3. If you keep believing in yourself and keep pushing you will absolutely get there.”
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With Love,
Annie
