Bridie Murphy, an Aboriginal advocate with Aged Rights Advocacy Service, OPAN’s South Australian network member.
Tell us a little about your background
I am a proud Kuyani/Arrernte woman on my mother’s side. I quit school in year 11. When my oldest son was being bullied, he asked me: ‘how long did you go for?’ I realised that I needed to do better if I expected him to do better. So, I went back to school and got my SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education). I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Social Work.
What made you decide to become an aged care advocate?
Prior to working at ARAS (Aged Rights Advocacy Service), I worked at Link Up at Nunkuwarrin Yunti, a programme connecting stolen generations back to their families and culture. I had a client whose grandson had been beating her for money. When she told me this, I didn’t know what to do. It was very confronting. I did some research and came across ARAS; they had a job available for an Advocate. I’m like, OK, universe, I hear you; I’m going to go into this and see what I can do to support the Elders.
What do you like most about your job/the work?
I love empowering clients. I love that I’ve made a difference in their lives. And when I give them the tools they need to speak up for themselves, I feel really fulfilled.
I love giving people ideas on how to combat elder abuse so that they are supported and they’ve got strategies – especially with mob. Giving them that clear awareness: if you’re giving too much that’s not cultural that’s elder abuse.
What do you like least?
If there’s a gap and I’m unable to support them, that’s hard because I’ll need to step back and find someone that can support them. I feel like I want to keep helping them, so I’ve got to take that minute to say well, no, this is out of scope. Let me see if I can find someone else who can help.
What has being an advocate taught you?
Over the last year and a half, I’ve got a better understanding of how to negotiate. Originally, I’d go in guns blazing and then I realised how important negotiating is.
What would you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Having my children be proud of me. I come from a trauma background. If I think about where I was 5 years ago, and where I am now . . . my kids have seen that growth and they’re proud of me. To be their role model and give them direction, that feels like a really big accomplishment.
What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
My kids, they give me the strength to move forward.
If you weren’t an advocate, what would you do instead?
I’d work in homeless shelters for young teenagers, especially for mob, because there’s a lot of mob out on the street.
Long term, I want to be an anthropologist. I’m studying a Bachelor of Social Work, and then I’m going to use that to slingshot into a Masters in Anthropology, and then I’ll do a doctorate in that. I find cultures interesting. I think every person’s culture is unique and beautiful.
What would be your ‘perfect’ day?
Going to the beach with the kids.
What’s the one possession you couldn’t live without?
My pacemaker. Last year, I went through heart failure. I was born with a heart problem, so I knew it was coming. They fixed the valve, but my heart didn’t want to start again, so they put in a pacemaker. I feel so much better. I’m getting back to being fit and healthy.
If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
My mom, she passed away 16 1/2 years ago. She’s that feeling of home I haven’t had for a very long time, so I would love to have lunch with her, but then the hardest thing would be getting up from that seat.
