Our Leadership

Indigenous Allied Health Australia | Our Leadership

IAHA Patron Professor Tom Calma AO

Professor Calma is an Aboriginal elder from the Kungarakan tribal group and a member of the Iwaidja tribal group in the NT. Currently the National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking and Chancellor of the University of Canberra, Professor Calma previously served as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and the Race Discrimination Commissioner. Professor Calma has a special interest in Indigenous education, employment and training programs.

Professor Calma is a long-serving supporter of Indigenous Allied Health Australia and IAHA Lifetime Achievement Awardee. He has been a prominent advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, pioneering the Close the Gap campaign and more recently leading the national effort to tackle Indigenous smoking.

IAHA Patron June Oscar AO

June Oscar AO is a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.

She is a strong advocate for Indigenous Australian languages, social justice, women’s issues, and has worked tirelessly to reduce Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

June has held a raft of influential positions including Deputy Director of the Kimberley Land Council, chair of the Kimberley Language Resource Centre and the Kimberley Interpreting Service and Chief Investigator with WA’s Lililwan Project addressing FASD.

She led a successful community driven campaign for alcohol restrictions in Fitzroy Crossing and is an international advocate on the impacts of intergenerational trauma and the need to restore societal wellbeing through the revitalisation of cultural practices, languages and connection to land and water.

In 2013 June was awarded an Officer of the order of Australia for distinguished service to the Indigenous community of Western Australia, particularly through health and social welfare programs. In 2015, June received the Menzies School of Health Research Medallion for her work with FASD. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Desmond Tutu Global Reconciliation Award, she was named NAIDOC person of the year in 2018, and in 2019 she was bestowed the honorary role of a Distinguished Fellow of ANZSOG.

June began her five-year term as Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner in 2017, and in April 2022 she was reappointed for a further two years. She published the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Report in December 2020 and continues to pursue its full implementation to advance First Nations gender justice and equality in Australia.

IAHA Ltd Board of Directors

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.


Maddison Adams
Deputy Chairperson

Maddison Adams is a proud Wulli Wulli Woman from South East Queensland. Maddi grew up and now works on Turrbal and Jagera Country in Meeanjin and has been an active, engaged IAHA member since 2014. Maddi was first appointed as an IAHA Director in late 2018. 

Maddi graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) from Queensland University of Technology in 2015 and is due to complete a Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice at James Cook University in 2020. Maddi is currently the Allied Health Manager at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. She delivers services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health services in the South East and outreach services to South West Queensland.

Maddi is committed to delivering culturally responsive podiatry services and developing the future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health workforce.

Dr Stephen Corporal

Dr Stephen Corporal is an Eastern Arrernte man on his mother’s side with family connections to many other First Nations Peoples, He was born Bwgcolman in Townsville and now lives on Jagera Country in Southeast Queensland. He has been around Southeast Queensland for many years and worked in and been on Boards of community organisations in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

After working in community for many years he ended up going to Uni and completing a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) degrees at UQ in 2003. After which he then worked as a Social Worker at Centrelink while completing a Masters of Social Policy at JCU in 2005.

Stephen started work at the University of Queensland in 2005 at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit. He enrolled in a PhD about Indigenous Superannuation in 2007 at UQ. He withdrew from the PHD to focus on Recruitment pathways of Indigenous students into the UQ School of Medicine where he was seconded to.

Stephen then left UQ to work as a Project Officer at Griffith University Health Executive to work on setting up pathways into health courses including medicine. He started and completed this PhD looking at Identity, Roles and Expectations of Indigenous Health students at a Health Faculty in an Australian University. He completed a Prof Cert in Indigenous Research at University of Melbourne and is currently completing the Grad Cert in Indigenous Leadership and Research at the University of Melbourne. Stephen is currently a Lecturer B in the School of Health Sciences and Social Work teaching First Australians and Social Justice and other Social Work courses.

Stephen has been on the Board of Indigenous Allied Health Australia for 6 years because he has an ongoing commitment to increase the Health Workforce of Indigenous people.

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.

Kimberley has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health. Kimberley works as an Impact and Engagement Co-lead at the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice, housed at the Australian National University. The Institute builds on the legacy of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Project, elevating and investing in the voices and solutions of First Nations women and girls to drive social, economic and ecological impact. 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.

Ms Lauren Carr
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.

 

Ms Tracey 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.

IAHA NTWD Board of Directors

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.

Shaun Tatipata
Deputy Chairperson

Shaun Tatipata is the founding Director of Australia’s first Aboriginal-owned optical and eye care provider, the Deadly Vision Centre. The Aboriginal enterprise promotes health and wellbeing, while also celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and community. Shaun trained as an Aboriginal health worker in 2001. Since graduating, he’s delivered primary healthcare services and implemented outreach programs in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, as well as with the Northern Territory Government. Until recently, Shaun led The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Indigenous Australia Program.

Shaun, who is of Wuthathi and Ngarrindjeri descent, is passionate about strengthening service coordination through improved leadership and governance.

Through the Deadly Vision Centre, Shaun is helping close the gap in eye health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians by providing access to culturally safe and socially responsive eye care – in a way that’s affordable and fashionable. Shaun is also committed to making it easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at risk of vision loss to get the specialist care they need.

Shaun’s interests include strengthening service coordination through improved leadership and governance, and advancing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner profession.

 

Stephen Corporal
Director

Dr Stephen Corporal is an Eastern Arrernte man on his mother’s side with family connections to many other First Nations Peoples, He was born Bwgcolman in Townsville and now lives on Jagera Country in Southeast Queensland. He has been around Southeast Queensland for many years and worked in and been on Boards of community organisations in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

After working in community for many years he ended up going to Uni and completing a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) degrees at UQ in 2003. After which he then worked as a Social Worker at Centrelink while completing a Masters of Social Policy at JCU in 2005.

Stephen started work at the University of Queensland in 2005 at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit. He enrolled in a PhD about Indigenous Superannuation in 2007 at UQ. He withdrew from the PHD to focus on Recruitment pathways of Indigenous students into the UQ School of Medicine where he was seconded to.

Stephen then left UQ to work as a Project Officer at Griffith University Health Executive to work on setting up pathways into health courses including medicine. He started and completed this PhD looking at Identity, Roles and Expectations of Indigenous Health students at a Health Faculty in an Australian University. He completed a Prof Cert in Indigenous Research at University of Melbourne and is currently completing the Grad Cert in Indigenous Leadership and Research at the University of Melbourne. Stephen is currently a Lecturer B in the School of Health Sciences and Social Work teaching First Australians and Social Justice and other Social Work courses.

Stephen has been on the Board of Indigenous Allied Health Australia for 6 years because he has an ongoing commitment to increase the Health Workforce of Indigenous people.

Ms Lauren Carr
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).

Ms Madeline Bower
Director

Maddy’s mother (Nida Lowe), was a Stolen Generations (Gudanji/ Wambaya /Waanyi /Garra nations) member and her father (Mick Bower) were long term residents of Katherine. Maddy grew up in Katherine, NT and has forged a career in the health field. She currently works with Flinders University in Katherine in Indigenous Health and has a worked in community focusing on community health, research, collaboration and strengthening the cultural humility across systems. She has worked in Government and Aboriginal Health Services and sectors.

She has strong connections to family and friends in the Katherine community and has values consisting of strengthening the needs of the community and supporting solutions and keeping it real, by working with the community and acknowledging the historical context to move through issues in a positive way with family, friends, culture, environment and social aspects of our community. She is actively engaged in supporting local Elders and women’s groups.

Ms Celeste Brand

My name is Celeste. I am applying to be a director on the IAHA NT Workforce Development Board.

I was born and raised on Centre Arrernte country here in Mpartnwe Alice Springs in Central Australia. I am fifth generation here, with Arabana roots.  I am a Social Worker, I graduated from Curtin University in 2016. I have worked for both gov and non gov organisations. I am currently employed as a Social Worker with the local AMS, Congress.

I have been a member of IAHA for seven years. I am invested and excited in the work IAHA is doing. I understand IAHA’s objectives is to support students during their study and continued support once graduated. 

I understand IAHA and the IAHA NT Workforce Development is investing in the educational and cultural journey for our young ones and because of my personal journey with IAHA supporting me as a student, I really value this. I have three young daughters and for me, I would like to see a world where they can access health care can feeling safe, supported and satisfied they have received optimal care – free from racism and discrimination. This starts with education from both worlds  – our culture and western knowledge. 

Mr Riley Park

 My name is Ryley, I’m a proud descendent of the Eastern Arrernte peoples of Central Australia. I was born and raised on Garramilla (Darwin) on Larrakia country. I completed my Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Flinders University on Kaurna country in Adelaide. I’m currently working and living on Garramilla (Darwin) on beautiful Larrakia country as an Early Career Speech Pathologist providing speech, language, feeding and literacy assessments and therapy to children from ages 3-12 years of age. I’m also currently providing speech pathology services to children and adults in Tennant Creek on Warumungu country. I have been supported by IAHA since 2020 and they have helped me with completing my studies and continue to support me throughout my early career as a speech pathologist.