Meet an ally: Damien Carter

Damien Carter, a proud Gamilaroi man, was born near the Tamworth area and raised in Lightning Ridge. Damien is recognised as an Aboriginal person both within his community and in the Sutherland Shire, on Dharawal Country.

Resilience has been a defining part of Damien’s journey. Throughout his life, he has faced racism, discrimination, and being told he’d never amount to anything, sometimes even by those we’re meant to trust, like teachers and police. These and other setbacks strengthened his determination to succeed and deepened his commitment to creating change.

In his work within social and human services, Damien connects vulnerable or disadvantaged individuals with essential resources, counseling, and community support, while promoting social justice. Currently, he feels privileged advocating for Aboriginal people in vulnerable situations as an Aboriginal Consultant within a cultural team. He is also a proud member of the Sutherland Shire Council Aboriginal Reference Group.

Damien upskills and fosters understanding of Aboriginal culture among non-Aboriginal colleagues. He draws on his lived experience and cultural knowledge to advise teams on cultural considerations, helping bridge the gap between practice and culture. This includes providing insights and questions that guide respectful and informed engagement with Aboriginal families.

Damien's journey with Sutherland Shire Reconciliation began when a work friend invited him to attend an SSR event. He met the incredible volunteers who make SSR what it is. Not long after, we invited him to become a committee member, a role he's proud to hold today.