'Look at the woman I've become': Aboriginal entrepreneur on overcoming trauma

When Leticia Quince was 12 years old she was taken into out-of-home care along with her five siblings. She tells The Feed, how she reconnected with her Indigenous culture.

Proud Wiradjuri woman, Leticia Quince, has been running her graphic design business, Leticia Anne Designs full-time since the beginning of the year.

“I’m all about encouraging young people to go into that entrepreneur space and be their own bosses,” she said.

After completing high school, Leticia obtained a diploma of community services and worked as a case-worker.

“People would say that these young people (in out-of-home-care) won't be able to achieve their goals.”

“But in my work [I] was able to see those lightbulb moments happen when they were able to gain some control over their lives,”  Leticia said.

Leticia's first Christmas in care. Source: Supplied

In her experience, Leticia said there's a shortage of Indigenous caseworkers for kids in care.

“Being an Indigenous caseworker, I felt like it made a significant difference to working with other mobs because they just knew that we were there for them,” she said.

“There's already a gap in equality for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, let alone adding the stigma that comes with growing up in out-of-home care.”

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

While Leticia has a loving relationship with her foster parents, she grew up not knowing much about her Indigenous culture.

In her final year of high school, and with the full support of her foster parents, she moved into an Aboriginal hostel.

“It was a really hard decision for me because I am a very family-orientated person.”

“It meant moving away from my little brother, my two little sisters, and from my foster family.

“While I felt a sense of loss I was gaining a sense of connection in a different way.”

Living with other Indigenous young people helped Leticia reconnect with her culture.

Leticia performing at a NAIDOC week event in 2019. Source: Supplied

Once she turned 18 she went to the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies to trace back her family tree. 

“I had to make the difficult decision to reach out to my parents who I hadn’t spoken to in years.”

“They passed on the number of my great aunty who is the knowledge holder, I got to speak with her over the phone six months before she died,” she said.

Leticia recalled the first time she went to a corroboree and the tears it brought to her eyes.

“I felt so connected to these hundreds of people that came from near and far to this space, even though I'd never met them before.”

She said that despite all the hardship she’s experienced in life, she wouldn’t have changed a thing.

“But look at the woman I've become, now I'm on a completely different path of leadership and advocacy.”

Leticia says she always brings her culture into her graphic design work. Source: The Feed

In her graphic design work Leticia said she always incorporates her Indigenous culture. 

“With graphic design, my culture is everything.”

“I ensure that I bring through a sense of connection and to honor my ancestors and the journey that I've been on with my culture, but to also support other Indigenous businesses.

“I find going into business with other mobs, there's a mutual respect there and we’re so proud of what we can create together,” she said.

NAIDOC Week (4-11 July) celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year's theme - Heal Country! – calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.

See more Naidoc Week stories here. 

SBS Learn also provides resources for teachers to share with their students.