Based in Bridgewater, tagari lia is an Aboriginal child and family centre which aims to improve the health, well-being and education of Tasmanian children aged 0-5. For over a year, Zayden Dare-Rainey has been a Family Safety Officer at the centre, engaging with Aboriginal children and fam­ilies. They provide culturally appropriate support, mentor­ship, advocacy, and promote family safety and address family violence and its impact on Aboriginal children.

Tell us a bit about yourself? I grew up in Gagebrook for seven years and then spent an­other seven in Bridgewater. As a child, I remember spending a lot of time out in the cul-de-sac with the local kids, no technol­ogy or phones around, just kids and imagination terrorising the neighbours! I now live in Brighton which is far enough away, but still close enough to home. In my spare time I enjoy travelling interstate with my young brothers visiting local waterfalls and sites, enjoying being in country. One of my favourite movies is Rob Rein­er’s Stand By Me (1986).

What makes tagari lia unique? The community. They all play a part in supporting and empowering each other just like a big family.

What kind of programs does tagari lia provide? There are many programs and services such as Drop in & Play, paedi­atrician, ParentsNext, speech therapist, parenting cours­es, D&A counsellor, CHAPS, Aboriginal education, social worker, physiotherapy, food relief, family lawyer, arts and craft, and Rock & Rhyme.

What does tagari lia mean? Family!

What kind of work have you done over the years? Since the age of 14 I’ve worked in a range of different sectors. I started my career in retail and fast food while still attending high school. Toward the end of graduation I was successful in obtaining an Indigenous school-based apprenticeship offering employment with the Commonwealth Bank. That opportunity lead into other sectors such as Business and Administration with local Reg­istered Training Organisations, the public sector with Medicare.

I began my career in family and children support with the Tas­manian Aboriginal Centre as a youth mentor/worker.