Tamika Jarvis

2024 Cohort

Pronouns: she/her

Tamika is involved in social change work relating to homelessness, young parents and young women.

Tamika is a Widjabul Wia-Bal Bundjalung woman currently based between the Central Coast and Sydney, New South Wales. She is a construction professional who has a decade of experience working, studying, travelling and volunteering within this space.

After becoming a mother at the age of 20, Tamika was exposed to the many barriers of being a young parent (<25) and seeking equitable access to participate in society. In her work she draws upon a lot of her own lived experiences and the ways in which issues such as education, domestic violence and homelessness affects young parents, particularly First Nations people.

Tamika has spent a considerable amount of time engaging within the Sino-Australian space since 2016. She is passionate about the similarities between Chinese and Aboriginal culture, and ways of doing business. This includes the way in which mothers - in particular breastfeeding mothers - are supported to engage in business and community. This is a stark comparison to Western corporate climates. Tamika lives and breathes the philosophy that Aboriginal women should not have to choose between their cultural commitments, their children, and engaging in meaningful work… and has taken both of her sons to conferences and programs around China!

Tamika currently serves as a member on the YWCA Young Women’s Council, advising the organisation’s board on issues pertaining to young women, housing instability and homelessness. This work helps to shape the strategic direction, advocacy campaigns, policy platforms and objectives of the YWCA.

Tamika also volunteers her time in a management role (Service Coordinator) for Orange Sky Australia. This is a not-for-profit providing mobile laundry and shower services to homeless communities across Australia and Aotearoa. Tamika has held various voluntary management roles across this organisation for the past five years, and draws her passion from her own lived experiences faced as a young parent.

“I seek to create equal access and ongoing support for Aboriginal women and young mothers within the Australian construction industry.”

Social change work

Tamika is currently involved in social change work relating to homelessness, young parents and young women.

She has held volunteer management roles with Orange Sky Australia since 2018, a not-for-profit offering mobile shower and laundry services to Australia’s homeless communities. They aim to positively connect communities through conversation and connection.

She is also serving a two-year term on the YWCA’s Young Women’s Council. This is a body advising the organisation’s board on issues pertaining to young women, housing instability, and homelessness. This work helps to shape the strategic direction, advocacy campaigns, policy platforms and objectives of the YWCA.