Meet Kirrilaa Johnstone

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.