Ms Nicole Turner
Chairperson

Nicole Turner is a proud Kamilaroi woman. She is one of very few qualified Aboriginal Community Nutritionists in Australia after completing her studies in the Bachelor of Applied Science (Community Nutrition). She is the current IAHA Chairperson and has been on the Board for six years showing leadership across the allied health and broader health sector.

Nicole has worked in the health sector for over 20 years and in Aboriginal health for over 15 years as an Aboriginal Health Worker and enrolled nurse before becoming a Nutritionist . Nicole is an Adjunct Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Canberra and has published several research papers in international journals.  Nicole holds a full-time position with the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Doctors Network as the Aboriginal Workforce Engagement Manager.

Ms Kirrilaa Johnstone
Deputy Chairperson

Kirrilaa is a Ngiyampaa and Barkindji Woman from Far West NSW currently working at the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) as a Policy Officer. A graduate in Public Health, she is committed to promoting the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities to have autonomy over their health and wellbeing outcomes by supporting examples of self-determination in the health workforce. Particularly passionate about the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, Kirrilaa believes that addressing racism in all sectors is critical to ensuring happy and healthy lives for young mob around the country.

Kirrilaa began her journey with IAHA in 2013 and has been actively engaged ever since. She has participated in the Health Fusion as both a student and a mentor, chaired the student representative committee, assisted with a number of different local IAHA stalls and participated in the High School to Health Careers program. In 2020, Kirrilaa was awarded IAHA’s Indigenous Allied Health Inspiration award for her commitment to encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to enter into careers in health.

Ms Kimberley Hunter
Director

Kimberley is a Nyikina woman from the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. Kimberley was born and raised on Kaurna Yerta in Adelaide, South Australia and currently lives and works on Gadigal Country in Sydney, New South Wales.

Kimberley has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health. Kimberley works at the Australian Human Rights Commission within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Unit as a Research and Policy Officer. Much of Kimberley’s work at the Commission has involved the coordination of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project- the first national consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls in 32 years. The project involves engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls across the country, from major cities to remote communities, with the aim of elevating the voices of our women’s needs, challenges and aspirations for the future.

Kimberley has been an active member of IAHA since 2013, has participated in the Health Fusion Team Challenge as a student and was awarded the Future Leader in Indigenous Allied Health award in 2015. Kimberley is dedicated to the advancement of social justice and human rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Mr Anthony Paulson
Director

Anthony Paulson is a proud Aboriginal man and his people are Worimi and Mununjali people. His great grandfather was from Tanna Island, Vanuatu. Anthony is a saltwater man and lives on the Mid North Coast of NSW on Biripi land (Taree). Anthony joined the NSW Police in his early 20’s and served in regional and remote locations such as Broken Hill, Wilcannia and Darlington Point. This experience allowed him to experience the many disadvantages endured for communities living in remote and regional areas.  In 2010, Anthony chose a different career path entering the non-government, Aboriginal community controlled sector in a managerial capacity. In 2013, Anthony graduated from Charles Sturt University having completed his Bachelor Health Science (Mental Health) as part of the Djurrawang program.  He has completed other health and management related courses and is currently undergoing a Master Business Administration with the Australian Institute of Business.

Anthony has experience working in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) setting and extensive experience working with community in both corporate, government and non-government roles in rural and remote locations within NSW. Anthony thoroughly enjoys working with different stakeholders and learning from different communities and his Elders. In 2017, Anthony joined GP Synergy, the training organisation responsible for providing medical training to GP registrars as the Manager of the Aboriginal Cultural Education Unit.  He enjoys the diversity the role brings and this role has further confirmed the importance to continue to support and provide cultural safety education and training to practitioners in the many different disciplines to ensure the patients culture is factored into all decision making.

Ms Patricia Councillor
Director

Patricia is a strong Yamaji Nyarlu (Woman) originally from Meekatharra, WA.

Patricia has been working in mental health since 2009, and working as a mental health practitioner and counsellor since 2013. Patricia has been a carer for a family member with disability and mental health issues for many years.

Patricia is currently working in a Coordinator role for Workforce Development and Support for Social and Emotional Wellbeing and  Alcohol and other Drugs workforce in several organisations throughout Western Australia; majority are Aboriginal controlled organisations.

Patricia holds a bachelor degree in mental health and various certificates related to human and community services, and has worked in government, non-government and Aboriginal controlled organisations.

Dr Elizabeth McEntyre
Director

Dr Elizabeth McEntyre is a Worimi and Wonnarua woman through bloodlines and her Country spans Port Stephens, the Great Myall Lakes, the Barrington Tops, and the Hunter Valley in NSW.

Elizabeth is a Doctor of Social Work (and Criminology), an accredited Mental Health Social Worker, the Aboriginal Official Visitor of prisons state-wide with the NSW Inspector of Custodial Services, and a member of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal conducting civil and forensic hearings.

Elizabeth has an extensive background of experience through her roles in both Government and the Aboriginal Community-led sectors providing a broad range of programs and services with Aboriginal peoples and communities including primary health, social and emotional wellbeing, criminal justice, disability, research, small business and strengthening Aboriginal families.

Elizabeth is a research consultant and advises several professional associations, service providers, Universities and consultative groups including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), Greening Australia, Griffith University, University of Sydney, and the University of NSW. With the latter, she is proudly associated with the Yuwaya Ngarra-li partnership between the University of NSW and Walgett Dharriwaa Elders Group to develop and implement innovative community-led solutions to address a range of complex challenges faced by the Walgett Community in remote NSW.

Lauren Hutchinson
Director

Lauren is a Murrawarri woman and optometrist. Lauren was born and raised on Wiradjuri country in the central west of NSW. She graduated from her Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry from QUT in 2017, following which, she returned to the central west, now residing back on the beautiful lands of the Wiradjuri people once again, in Parkes. Lauren has worked as an optometrist both in private practice and within the community controlled sector as well as as a project officer with the Fred Hollows Foundation. She is a current sitting member of the Optometry Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Advisory Committee, the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand’s Indigenous Taskforce Strategy and the National Experts Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health as well as a visiting fellow at QUT. Lauren has been an active member of IAHA since 2015.

Laurens passions are in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, rural and remote and paediatric health and is committed to advocating for improving outcomes for her people in these spaces.

In her spare time you can find Lauren on a hockey field or fishing on the Galari (Lachlan River).

Dr Clinton Schultz
Director

Clinton Schultz is a Gamilaraay man and registered psychologist with a keen interest in holistic wellness, particularly the wellness of workers in health and community services. Clinton’s PhD is titled: Winanga-li-gu (Higher order listening), Guwaa-li-gu (higher order speaking), Maruma-li-gu (higher order healing) Factors of holistic wellbeing for members of the Aboriginal health and community workforce. Clinton received the award for academic excellence in a thesis from Griffith University for this work. He is the Director First Nations Strategy and Partnerships with Blackdog Institute, and Co-founder of Sobah Beverages.

Tracy Brand
Independent Non-Executive Director

Tracey is a proud descendent of the Eastern Arrernte people and has dedicated her life to improving outcomes working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. With an extensive career working across a range of sectors, delivering services, and implementing programs and contributing to structural reform, Tracey brings strong health leadership experience, cultural knowledge, skills, and perspectives, which are valuable to the IAHA Board in driving IAHA into the future.

As the CEO of Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service in Western Australia, Tracey has extensive qualifications and experience in management, leadership, and governance, with strong knowledge and involvement in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Sector.