Adj Prof 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 is the current CEO of AH & MRC.
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.
Dr 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 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.
Shahnaz Rind, Director
Bio coming soon
IAHA Patron Professor Tom Calma AO
IAHA Patron June Oscar AO
