IAHA Board Nominee Nellie Pollard-Wharton

Indigenous Allied Health Australia | IAHA Board Nominee Nellie Pollard-Wharton


My name is Nellie Pollard-Wharton, I am a proud and staunch Kooma (south-western QLD) woman.  I was born on the lands of the Bindal and Wulgurukaba Peoples (Townsville) and raised in Meanjin (Brisbane) until I was 10 years old.  I then moved to Gadigal/Wangal country and have lived here ever since, raising my beautiful family on these lands.

I am connected to and remain accountable to the community in which I have grown up in, and to the communities and families that helped to raise me.  My commitment to Aboriginal ways of working have been instilled in me from birth.  I have been privileged enough to be guided by immediate and extended family, and broader community members that have supported me to walk with integrity and pride, ensuring I remain accountable where it matters most. 

My passion for Aboriginal health stems from the work of my late grandmother, Aunty Beryl Wharton, in south-east QLD.  She was a staunch advocate for Aboriginal health, working closely with Fred Hollows on eye health, and played pivotal roles in various community health organisations across QLD throughout her life, recognised posthumously by ATSIC commissioner in 2004.  Like many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, our passion for improving health outcomes for our peoples leads to our pursuits of careers in Indigenous health spaces, because the work is to improve the lives of our families and our communities, now and for future generations. 

I have been fortunate to be a member of IAHA since 2014, beginning my journey as an undergraduate Social Work student. I have remained committed to IAHA, serving as an SRC member, a graduate of the inaugural IAHA leadership program, an award recipient and volunteering my time to IAHA operations when requested. 

I am currently a combined track lecturer in the School of Population Health at the University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine and Health.  I am passionate about community-led research with tangible outcomes and shaping students learning to combat interpersonal, institutional and systemic racism.

Nominee’s vision and priorities for IAHA 

I’m excited to support IAHA’s continued growth and unwavering commitment to its membership. My vision is that, as an organisation, we remain responsive to the priorities set by our members—ensuring that their voices guide our direction. I’m deeply passionate about community driving real and lasting change. I believe IAHA, as a peak body, holds a unique and powerful position to shape policy, practice, and educational approaches that empower our mobs to self-determine our futures.

  • I would love to see more universities involved in sponsoring student participation and connection with IAHA. 
  • Expansion of Allied Health Academies
  • Commitment to improved and transformative support for membership

I believe it is incredibly important that we as First Nations peoples take up space, especially Blak women, as we are the foundations.  By taking up space in traditionally colonial institutions and spaces, we have more control over policy, practise and education – shaping the narratives and the discourse in our specific fields. Nothing about us, without us.  I believe IAHA is a platform through which we can take up space, we can agitate, we can be strategic and we can shape the futures we hope for. 

Nominee’s skills, knowledge and/or experience and how the nominee would propose to add value to overall strategic direction and governance of the Company 

As a proud Kooma woman and Lecturer in the School of Population Health at UNSW, I bring a deep commitment to embedding Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing into health education, research, and governance. My academic and professional journey has been shaped by a passion for decolonising systems, privileging First Nations voices, and creating culturally responsive and transformative spaces.

I have experience in community-led research, particularly in the co-design and evaluation of public health programs that respond to the priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. My work with First Nations Response, a grassroots organisation I co-founded, reflects my dedication to linking community initiatives with the skills I’ve built through education to address food insecurity and broader health inequities in the community I live in.  Being part of the transformation of a grassroots initiative into a registered organisation has equipped me with valuable experience in operational management, governance structures, and risk oversight.

I currently serve on governance and advisory groups, including the POCLS Aboriginal Advisory Group and Yakaaywa Purrary Ngiya (governance), where I contribute strategic insight grounded in cultural integrity and relational accountability. 

I have also been a non-executive director of Weave Youth & Community Services for several years.  Weave is a place-based community organisation – my role ensures that Weave centres Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing into their very fabric.  Weave has endorsed me to undertake Australian Institute of Company Directors upcoming First Nations Company Director course.  This will further strengthen my skills to support IAHA as a Board member. 

If appointed, I would bring a strong, culturally informed lens to strategic direction and governance. I aim to:

  • Support the ongoing strengthening of cultural responsiveness across allied health education and practice.
  • Advocate for Indigenous leadership and self-determination in health systems.
  • Support ethical, strengths-based research and policy development.
  • Foster meaningful partnerships between IAHA, community, academia, and health institutions.

I believe my lived experience, professional expertise, and commitment to transformative change would add significant value to the strategic direction and governance of the Company.

Nominee will work as a team and contribute to the future of the Company. 

I deeply value collaboration and understand the power of working collectively to achieve shared goals. I bring a relational, strengths-based approach to teamwork—grounded in cultural integrity, mutual respect, and accountability. I believe IAHA’s strength lies in its collective leadership, and I’m committed to contributing in ways that uplift and support others.

I would work alongside fellow board members, staff, and the broader membership to ensure our strategic direction remains responsive, inclusive, and community-led. I’m committed to listening, learning, and contributing thoughtfully to discussions and decisions. My experience in governance, research, and community-led initiatives equips me to engage with complex challenges and help shape solutions that reflect our values and priorities.

Together, I believe we can continue to grow IAHA’s impact, strengthen our workforce, and ensure our mobs are empowered to lead and shape their own futures.

I believe strong leadership is built on accountability, humility, and a commitment to growth. I’m not afraid to own my mistakes—doing so allows me to reflect, learn, and improve both personally and professionally. I see challenges as opportunities to deepen my understanding and strengthen my contributions.

In working with IAHA, I would bring this mindset to every aspect of my role. I value honest communication, constructive feedback, and the kind of teamwork that fosters continuous learning. I’m committed to showing up with integrity, being accountable to our members and communities, and growing alongside others to ensure IAHA continues to thrive as a culturally strong, responsive, and visionary organisation.

Nominee’s qualifications, attributes, and expertise: 

Qualifications:

  • I hold a Master of Public Health Research from the University of New South Wales.
  • I hold a Bachelor of Social Work (hon) from the University of New South Wales.

Certifications & Micro-Credentials

  • Foundations of Learning and Teaching (FULT) – UNSW, 2025
  • Next Gen – Foundations of Leadership, 2025
  • Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) Leadership Program, 2022

Significant Distinctions, Awards & Scholarships

  • Individual Nominee, UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Award 2025
  • Nura Gili Spirit Award, Faculty of Medicine and Health, 2025
  • Local Allied Health Champion, Indigenous Allied Health Australia (sponsored by SARRAH), 2021
  • IAHA Student Representative Council (SRC) Representative, 202 & 2016

Governance & Advisory Groups

  • Bindila Steering Group, 2025 – Present
  • Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS) Aboriginal Advisory Group, 2024 – Present
  • Yukaaywa Purray Study – Ngiya Governance Group, 2024 – Present

Boards & Volunteering

  • Co-Founder, First Nations Response, 2019
  • Board Member, Weave Youth & Community Services, 2021 – Present

An explanation of the nominee’s understanding of IAHA’s objectives, stakeholders, and operating environment 

As a long-term committed member of IAHA, I have a strong alignment with IAHA’s values and a deep understanding of its strategic purpose and the context in which it operates.  

I understand that IAHA is a national, community-controlled, member-based organisation committed to transforming health and education systems through the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health professionals. IAHA’s objectives reflect a commitment to:

  • Strengthening the cultural and professional capacity of its members.
  • Growing the Indigenous allied health workforce through culturally safe pathways and leadership development.
  • Transforming systems to embed culturally responsive, strengths-based, and community-led approaches.
  • Leading national advocacy through a collective Indigenous voice that centres self-determination.
  • Connecting members with each other, with communities, and with culture to foster holistic wellbeing.

I see these objects as a blueprint for systemic change that is grounded in cultural integrity and Indigenous leadership.

I recognise that IAHA’s stakeholders are diverse and interconnected. They include:

  • Members: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health professionals and students, whose voices and leadership are central to IAHA’s mission.
  • Communities: Indigenous families and communities across Australia who seek culturally safe and responsive services.
  • Government agencies: Particularly the Department of Health and other bodies that shape policy and fund IAHA’s initiatives.
  • Educational institutions: Partners in developing culturally safe training and career pathways.
  • Health and social service organisations: Collaborators in embedding Indigenous-led models of care.
  • Non-Indigenous allies and sector partners: Who support IAHA’s mission through respectful engagement.

I value the importance of building respectful, reciprocal relationships with all stakeholders to advance IAHA’s goals and ensure accountability to community.

I understand that IAHA operates in a complex and evolving environment shaped by:

  • The ongoing impacts of colonisation on Indigenous health and wellbeing.
  • Policy and funding shifts in health, education, and Indigenous affairs.
  • Workforce challenges, including recruitment, retention, and the need for culturally safe workplaces.
  • Community expectations for Indigenous-led, strengths-based, and culturally grounded services.
  • Governance responsibilities as a community-controlled organisation with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status and national influence.

This environment demands culturally competent leadership, strategic foresight, and a commitment to Indigenous self-determination. I am committed to contributing to IAHA’s vision through collaborative governance, advocacy, and accountability to community.