K A Nelson

"In the early hours my thoughts fly north to the desert— to a woman I call mother, who took me to Dinner Camp told me a story, taught me a song, showed me a dance."

K A Nelson was born and raised in Mudgee NSW, K A Nelson left school at 15 and went to ‘tech’ to learn shorthand and typing. A decade or so and a few adventures later, she returned to study with the help of Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, first at Sydney Teachers College, then at the University of New England. With a Diploma of Teaching (Technical) and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English literature and Drama, she returned to the desert.

K A Nelson has lived and worked New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Italy, the Northern Territory and Canberra. After three decades in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs she’s back studying at the University of Canberra, writing a memoir with poetry as part of a Masters by research.

Her greatest achievement and joy has been raising her daughter with lots of love and community development principles.