Terori Hareko-Avaivilla

Terori Hareko-Avaivilla believes her family, culture and community are three very important aspects of her leadership journey, shaping her personal and professional growth.

She began her career in community development as a trainee at the Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) in Fitzroy, during this time she was provided with opportunities for further training which led her to complete her Train the Trainer and Diploma of Community Education at RMIT. BSL nominated her for the Victorian Training award in 2005, where she was awarded Trainee of the Year and going on to the nationals to represent Victoria, where she was a finalist.

Terori was asked to apply for the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Support Worker at the Royal Women’s Hospital and was subsequently appointed in the ATSIHLO role at the Women’s for nine and half years before her appointment as Team Leader of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health team at Cohealth.

In late 2018, Terori was appointed as the Senior Project Manager First Nations Values of Water for Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, Southeast Water and City West Water.

At the start of 2020, Terori stepped into her consultancy business Salt Studio Consultancy full time as a sole trader. Offering organisations, groups and individuals’ opportunities for further cultural understanding with the 8 Ways of Knowing: Working in Two Worlds training program. This training moves away from traditional cultural awareness and offers participants a unique opportunity to build a deeper understanding through cultural knowledge sharing, storytelling, yarning circles and truth telling.

Terori is a First Nations, cultural educator, creative and cultural wellness facilitator, holding water and koko (cocoa) ceremony for women. She comes from a strong Islander identity, sharing her Torres Strait, Papuan and Samoan cultural understanding with those around her.

In 2022 Terori took the next step in her leadership and business building, going from a sole trader to a company. Bringing all her creative brands under one name, Avaivilla Group. The business offers three service streams – ‘Working in Two Worlds’ Cultural education, Ngarra-Djarra Gurri Bunmarra (Health Well Health) Wellness Retreats (Holding Space and Float) and Vai Nations store selling active wear and giftware.

Terori hopes to continue with her creative and wellness endeavours, with her sight set on expending her FLOAT Wellness Retreats across the Pacific Islands of Vanuatu and Samoa.

Currently Terori dedicates her time as the General Manager at Koondee Woonga-gat Toor-rong, a First Nations led philanthropic organisation based in Narrm and Avaivilla Group, keeping her creative, wellness and cultural knowledge sharing spaces open to all.

Terori’s experience and involvement includes:

• Vice President of Weenthunga Health Network 2015-2016. Weenthunga is a not-for-profit organisation that supports and encourages the Aboriginal workforce in the health and allied health area.
• Member of a number of committees including Western Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee, RWH Advisory Committee, Royal Children’s Hospital Advisory Committee, Inner Northwest PCP Koolin Balit Committee, YASN (Yarra Aboriginal Support Network), Working in two worlds working group, to name a few.
• Facilitated First Nations Cultural Leadership understanding in collaboration with partner organisations such as Track C and Hot House community projects. Working across LGA’s including Brimbank, Wyndham, Surf Coast and the Tunnel Community Leadership Project.
• In 2019 Terori was appointed to the Board of Koondee Woonga-gat Toor-rong, a First Nations led philanthropic fund based in Melbourne. She was appointed to Chair of KWT from 2022 to 2023. At the end of 2023, Terori was appointed Executive Officer of KWT Community Fund.
• In 2022 Terori took the next step in her leadership and business building, going from a sole trader to a company. Bringing all her creative brands under one name, Avaivilla Group. The business offers three service streams – ‘Working in Two Worlds’ Cultural education, Ngarra-Djarra Gurri Bunmarra (Health Well Health) Wellness retreats (Holding Space and FLOAT) and Vai Nations store selling active wear and giftware.
• Recently, Terori set out to expand on her Wellness Retreats, launching FLOAT. An immersive, destination cultural wellness retreat exclusively for women 35+ and over. The Retreat offers women to engage in First Nations wellness activities infused with traditional islander practices from the island of Efate (Port Vila) Vanuatu. Terori hopes to make this an exclusive annual event.