When Courtney Ugle stands before the mural of herself in North Perth, she hopes viewers don't see her.
Instead, she hopes viewers see the strength and resilience that are found on the other side of adversity.
Growing up in Bunbury, Ms Ugle remembers the warmth of camping trips, crabbing adventures and carefree days with cousins, however those joyful moments exist alongside profound loss and hardship.
Her parents separated when she was very young, and at the age of 11 she devastatingly lost her father.
At 19, tragedy struck again with the heartbreaking loss of her mother, who was murdered.
"Losing dad so early and then losing mum the way that we did as a 19-year-old changed my entire life. But I made a promise to myself that I wasn't going to let that define me in a negative way," Ms Ugle said.
With the loss of her parents at the early stages of life, Ms Ugle, now in her mid-twenties, realised she had a lot of trauma to unpack.
In the aftermath, the proud Ballardong Wardandi Noongar woman found purpose in sharing her story.
She founded Waangkiny, a social enterprise which creates safe spaces for dialogue, healing and change. In her language, Waangkiny means "talking", and for Ms Ugle, talking became her path to empowerment.
"Waangkiny is about creating spaces where we can talk about our deep, brutal trauma or things often kept in the dark," she said.
"I want to create a ripple effect of change and break the cycle within my family, within my community, and that's what Waangkiny is all about."
But Ms Ugle's journey to healing wasn't easy. The trauma of losing both parents at such a young age lived in her body and mind. Grief became a companion, and survival became a daily practice.
"Trauma doesn't just disappear—it lives in us, and it takes work to heal," she said.
"Losing mum the way I did altered every part of my being. But I didn't want her loss—or dad's—to define me in darkness. I wanted their lives, their love to push me forward."
Through her work with Waangkiny, Ms Ugle has become an advocate, a cycle-breaker, and a voice to those who feel silenced.
She approaches her work with honesty, rawness and bravery.
One way she continues to honour her parents and heal is by sharing her story at schools, community events and most recently, Parliament House, where she spoke as part of the '16 Days of Activism Campaign' against gender-based violence.
"Aboriginal women are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of family domestic violence and eight times more likely to lose their lives to it," she said.
"These numbers are not just statistics—they represent mothers, sisters, aunties, daughters.
"Change needs to happen on a systemic level, but it also begins in our homes and communities."
Ms Ugle knows the solutions must be community-led and culturally safe. Through Waangkiny, she aims to create those spaces where conversations can start.
"I don't have all the answers, but I know this: healing starts with talking," she said.
"It starts with breaking the silence and shame. And it starts with every one of us daring to dream of something better."
View this post on Instagram
When asked how she manages to keep going, Ms Ugle admits carrying her story is heavy. But she has learned to refill her cup.
"After sharing my story, I give myself space," she said.
"I cry if I need to. I listen to country music. I go to the beach, put my feet on the sand, and let saltwater heal me.
"I remind myself that Mum and Dad are still with me—they are alive in me."
For Ms Ugle, every day she wakes up is a good day and every time she returns to Perth, she visits the mural.
Not to see herself, but to be reminded of the strength and resilience she carries—and that others carry too.
"If you ever see the mural, I hope you don't see me," she said.
"I hope you see what we're all capable of overcoming. I hope it dares you to dream."
