Big changes: Nytarra Buckley (centre) who graduated from the SEED Project's Changemaker Program in November presented at Parliament House in Canberra. Photo: The Seed Project
Seymour local Nytarra Buckley graduated from SEED Project’s Changemaker Program in November 2023.
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Since then, she’s made great progress, including presenting and participating in a panel discussion at Parliament House in Canberra.
In front of MPs, economists, and a Brotherhood of St Laurence research fellow, Ms Buckley shared her lived experiences with poverty in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My ‘helping others’ and natural speaking ability drew the attention of my local SEED team,” she said.
“(SEED) had an amazing opportunity to come up and speak on a panel for the parliamentary friends of ending poverty (group).”
“They asked if I would come and share my story and struggles with those who could make a big difference to people like me.”
Ms Buckley said she had a fantastic experience at Parliament House.
“I am a natural talker,” she said.
“In fact, most times talk too much.
“I was and still am excited to share my story as it is often hard to see what’s really happening.”
Ms Buckley said that as an Australian, people tend to downplay how much help they need, thinking things like ‘other people need it more’ and ‘I don’t want to burden you’.
She highlighted the importance of “being able to hear others ask questions and (be able to) put forth my voice on why I believed this economic crisis was so challenging”.
Speaking up: Nytarra Buckley relayed her struggle with poverty in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to a panel discussion at Parliament House in Canberra. Photo: The SEED Project
It wasn’t easy to tell her story, and Ms Buckley admitted that tears did well up, with her voice wavering, at some moments in a room full of people.
“Knowing that these people were listening and wanting to make things better made all the difference to adding to my bravery,” she said.
Ms Buckley said the Changemakers program prepared her for situations like this, where she was able to make a more significant impact, making a change at a higher level.
“Before Changemakers, I did all the little things I could do to help,” she said.
“I gave away coats, what foods I could spare helped in community organisations.”
“Now, I know where I can go for the bigger issues.“
Ms Buckley said she now realises that her voice and knowledge are highly valued and can make a difference.
“The biggest skill I learned is to not downplay the issue,” she said.
“Speak the whole story regardless of if it hurts.”
“The truth often hurts.”
Ms Buckley said there were two main messages she hoped everyone took on board.
“First, when did ignoring others become okay?” she asked.
“When did stepping over someone on our way to work become normal?”
“You see someone struggling to push a trolley while holding their kids, and everyone looks away, hoping not to notice instead of offering to help... what changed?”
Her second message is to stop normalising yours or others’ struggle as a job-seeker.
“I am often called a dole bludger or told to be thankful,” Ms Buckley said.
“Well, I am thankful for what I have, but the people abusing the system are not me.”
Ms Buckley said she worked the maximum hours she could with her chronic injury and followed all Centrelink rules to receive only $1000 a fortnight.
She lives off that money, including paying all her bills and even funding her medical-related needs, which she says is a struggle to budget, when her medical expenses can reach at least $200 per fortnight.
“It’s not normal to choose between food and medical expenses,” she said.
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