Hi, I’m
Eddie.
How do you build a life you love when your body, your heart and your plans keep having other ideas?
I’m Eddie Solien, and I’m still working that one out.
I’m a proud Torres Strait Islander and Papua New Guinean man, living in Brisbane, with connections to Badu Island, Thursday Island and Tatana Village. I’m gay. I care deeply about culture, community and people getting a fair go. I also have a habit of pouring so much into other people that I forget I’m a person who needs looking after too.
I live with severe heart failure with left ventricular dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, autoimmune pancreatitis and type 2 diabetes. It’s a lot to put in an introduction. It’s a lot to live with, too. Behind those clinical words are the decisions about energy, the uncertainty, and the frustration of wanting to do more than my body can manage.
I’d love to tell you that illness made me endlessly wise and grateful. Sometimes it has made me more present. Sometimes I’ve just been scared, tired or angry. I can love my life and still find parts of it bloody hard.
Then there’s everything else. Heartbreak. Dating again. Family. Friendships. Learning that being needed and being loved aren’t always the same thing. Trying to set a boundary without immediately wanting to apologise for it. Apparently, knowing better and doing better are two separate jobs.
Culture and the ocean help me find my way back to myself. So does creating things I care about. I’m building a life that includes meaningful work, connection and room to breathe, even while I’m figuring out what that looks like.
That’s what I write about here. The things I’m proud of, the things that hurt, and the thoughts I’m still making sense of. If something on these pages makes you think, “Oh, thank God, it’s not just me,” then I’m glad we found each other.
I started this blog in 2023 as somewhere to put the thoughts that wouldn’t leave me alone. It’s become a conversation about health, love, culture, work and all the awkward places they meet. Some posts are tender. Some are frustrated. Some are me realising, halfway through writing, that I might need to take my own advice. Have a read. You don’t need to have your life sorted to be here.
Why I started building things of my own
Starting my own work wasn’t a tidy reinvention. I was learning as I went, staying up too late, and discovering that excitement doesn’t magically give you more energy. But there was something deeply satisfying about making something from my own ideas. Something I could put my values into and take responsibility for.
Cultural Nexus Indigenous Corporation
I started Cultural Nexus Indigenous Corporation because I wanted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have more say in the decisions affecting our lives. Governance, employment, procurement, the everyday decisions about who gets heard and who gets an opportunity. That’s where I wanted to put my energy.
CNIC grew out of my culture, lived experience and frustration, but also out of love. I care about what we build for our people. I want cultural knowledge and community voices to carry weight when decisions are made. Creating CNIC was my way of doing something with that conviction.
Indigenous Job Match
From that came Indigenous Job Match, a place to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers with employment opportunities. I wanted to build something where our skills, ambitions and cultural identities could be visible together.
I care about what happens after someone gets the job, too. Being welcomed is a beginning. Being respected, listened to and supported to grow is what I want for our mob. That’s the expectation I bring to this work.
PNG Careers
I also created PNG Careers, supporting Papua New Guinean job seekers with opportunities and practical help with résumés and cover letters. With my own Papua New Guinean roots, this work sits close to home.
There’s a person behind every application, with experience, responsibilities and hopes that don’t always fit neatly onto a page. I want people to have support to tell their story and take their next step. That matters to me.
And yes, there’s my work at Cleanaway
Alongside building these ventures, I work as Cleanaway’s National Employment Pathways Specialist. Employment is a thread running through so much of my life. I care about the person trying to get started, the person changing direction, and the person who needs someone to recognise what they can bring.
I’m proud of the work I do. I’m also still learning how to care about it without giving every last piece of myself to it. Having purpose doesn’t make me immune to exhaustion. Building something meaningful doesn’t mean I’ve worked out how to balance everything.
So that’s where I am: working, creating, managing my health, and trying to leave room for a life outside all the things I do. I’ll be writing about that part, too.
Make an impact today
Support Dignity Bags for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men
Your support can make a real difference. I create and distribute dignity bags for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in need, filled with essential items like underwear, toiletries, shelf-stable food, and other basics to support dignity and well-being.
Your donation goes directly towards sourcing and assembling these much-needed bags, providing immediate comfort and practical assistance to those facing hardship. Every contribution, big or small, helps ensure these dignity bags reach those who need them most.
Thank you for supporting this vital initiative and standing with our community.
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I’m Edward Solien, but you can call me Eddie. I’m a proud Torres Strait Islander and Papua New Guinean man living in Brisbane, and a member of the LGBTIQA+ community.
I founded Cultural Nexus Indigenous Corporation and created Indigenous Job Match and PNG Careers. I also work as Cleanaway’s National Employment Pathways Specialist. Culture, community and a belief in fair access to opportunity run through the work I care about.
I live with chronic illnesses, and I write about how health, relationships, identity and work meet in my everyday life. I started blogging in 2023 to get my thoughts onto a page. I’m still doing that, with a little more honesty about the things I used to keep to myself.
This is my personal space. The stories, opinions and reflections I share here are my own.
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Immerse yourself in heartfelt stories and reflections on culture, community, and social justice. Discover how lived experiences shape Edward’s approach to Diversity, Equity, and Belonging and learn from his journey towards reconciliation.
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The views, opinions, and content expressed in all articles, blogs, and other writings authored by Edward Solien are solely those of the author in their personal capacity and do not represent, reflect, or imply the opinions, positions, or policies of any organisation, employer, or affiliated entity.
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When Blak excellence is constantly asked to carry culture, educate colleagues and make organisations look inclusive, the hurt runs deeper than another “quick favour”. Eddie Solien reflects on tokenism in the workplace, colonial load and why true reconciliation requires power, resourcing and respect, not performative gestures.