Indigenous Health Advocate

For the purposes of this discussion, the term ‘Indigenous’ is used to represent Indigenous peoples worldwide unless otherwise indicated, however it should be noted that these peoples have distinct cultural identities and differences between and within themselves.

I have been involved in Indigenous health in one role or another since the 1990s. I was the first Aboriginal member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s Indigenous [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] Health Committee, and had a leading role in the development of two representative bodies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare workers. I have represented all these bodies to the Australian Government in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health-based initiatives such as Closing the Gap. I was a founding member and inaugural President of the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Physiotherapists, I have spearheaded a number of initiatives including a mentoring program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapy students and cultural safety training of physiotherapy students at my alma mater, the University of Queensland.

I have been fortunate to work in collaboration with many Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health professionals and am always looking to expand my networks and create opportunities for Indigenous health professionals to work together to achieve common goals.

I am in the process of developing a new project, Walk The Talk, to increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues, commencing in 2022.