Anthony (Tonji) Hansen
Manager Programs & Community Engagement
Tony Hansen is a Senior Traditional Custodian of the Wardandi and Bibbulmun people of the Southwest with additional connections with the Minang and Wilman people of Great Southern Noongar and Wagyl Kaip Booja. Mr Hansen is a current Director of Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation Native Title group.
Tony was born in Katanning in 1967 and at age three was forcibly removed from his family in 1970 and placed into Marribank Mission Institution for the next fifteen years, known as the Stolen Generation. He was released from Native Welfare in 1985.
Tony has utilised his lived experiences as a Stolen Generations man and as a Senior Traditional Custodian to insightfully commit to Aboriginal advancement in matters surrounding Closing the Gap reforms locally, regionally, State and at the national levels for three decades. This is demonstrated through his sustained roles with government agencies, including Western Australia Police Department, Human Services, Department of Communities Child Protection, and local government as well as advising and managing Aboriginal services in a range of non-government corporations.
Tony is currently the Co-Chairperson of the Bringing Them Home Committee WA Inc (BTH). Tony is currently a Member of the Healing Foundation Stolen Generation Elders Reference Group Committee on a National Platform, with The Healing Foundation, in Canberra.
Tony is an Associate of Curtin University as well as an associate of the Australian Rules Football organisation at the Fremantle Football Club External Advisory Group. Tony is currently a Member of the First Nation College, National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse, Tony is a Member of the Find and Connect, Stolen Generations Indigenous Reference Group at Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, at University of Technology Sydney.
Tony is a member of the Western Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet Aboriginal Advisory Council of WA, Tony is currently the Co-Chairperson of the Department of Communities Aboriginal Advisory Strategic Group. Tony is an Honorary Fellow of the School of Indigenous Knowledges at Murdoch University.
Tony has participated in International Platform on truth-telling of the Stolen Generations across the United States, Abu Dhabi, Canada and the United Kingdom.
