She’s only 23, but as an aspiring lawyer from a family which is committed to change, Toumanda Fohrman is keen to start young in the world of governance and boards in order to forge her own path to help her community in the future.

Toumanda’s plans to be a board director sometime in the future came much sooner than expected through a possible scholarship – but she wasn’t sure if it was the right time.

“So when this scholarship came along and I applied, I really took some time to think.  After having completed the course, I now know that I am ready, and have the confidence to continue that journey.”

She was awarded a scholarship under the AICD’s First Nations Scholarship Program 2024-2026 and studied the Foundations of Directorship course in March 2024 in Adelaide.

These days, Toumanda is a Solicitor within the Department of Communities and Justices, NSW. She has many aspirations for the future, particularly using law as an important pathway to social justice outcomes for First Nations people.

“One of the main reasons and passions for going into law was that I wanted to learn how to support my community in the world of justice,” she says.

“I really wanted to step up to the challenge, so that I could one day hopefully encourage other younger women to chase their dreams. So my passion for law is not only to my community in the world of justice, and fighting for their rights, but also to encourage younger women or men to join law and pursue that career.”

Community advocacy is something Toumanda is passionate about. She’s been the Mid North Coast Representative for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Youth Advisory Committee and a member of the Shellharbour City Council's Aboriginal Advisory Committee, alongside youth advocacy work throughout secondary and tertiary education years.

She believes models of two-way governance are the way of the future in Australia, where Aboriginal governance systems can be combined with traditional models. “Greater board representation amongst First Nations people will only result from greater understanding between Aboriginal and non-Indigenous community representatives who are in positions of power” she said.

“Any voice is important, but from my point of view, I think my voice is important from a young age and a young perspective. I like that a younger voice is being heard at the table”.

Toumanda truly values her elders and those who have supported her but worries that as time passes their stories will be lost and their voices no longer heard.

As an Aboriginal dancer who has performed for 13 years in communities around NSW, she believes artistic practices are helping to preserve her culture. It allows her to engage with the community, hear their voices, learn from elders and translate their stories into dance.

Those stories and the board roles she will one day fill will allow her to take many steps in her career and community advocacy, helping people to live better lives.

By Shelley Dempsey, Writer and Editor, AICD

This article was first published on the AICD website on 1 July 2024 and has been republished with permission.