Edwin Adrianta Surijah is an uninvited guest on the land of the Turrbal and Jagera peoples. He arrived in Australia in 2019 from Bali, Indonesia, with a background in research focusing on relationships and mental health. Currently, he works as a researcher at Central Queensland University, where he is developing communication training for non-Indigenous mental health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Growing up with intersectionality including ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, he has a deep concern for those who experience discrimination and feelings of being marginalised in society. In Brisbane, Australia, he volunteers his time with “Third Queer Culture,” a peer support group for LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers. Through this group, he has met incredible individuals from diverse backgrounds who continue to face marginalisation.
His experiences with Third Queer Culture have taught him about both struggle and resilience. He hopes that attendees of the symposium will have the opportunity to discover and learn from the stories of its members as well.