IAHA Homepage

Committee

Indigenous Allied Health Australia Board of Directors

The Indigenous Allied Health Australia Board of Directors currently comprises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of ten allied health professions. It is possible for other allied health professions to be included on the Board. If you wish to nominate, please CONTACT US.

The Board is responsible for setting the directions and policies of Indigenous Allied Health Autralia and monitor its progress in achieving its aims and objectives.  Board members are:

President

James Charles

Descent: Kaurna

Profession: Podiatrist -   South Australia  

I have lived all my life in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. I am married with 5 children, all boys, aged between 3 – 15 years.  I graduated as a podiatrist in 2004 from the University of South Australia, and have been working fulltime in Aboriginal health as a podiatrist since then at three clinics in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. I am just about to finish my masters of podiatry at the end of November 2008. I have been involved with Rotary a charity that amongst other things provides scholarships for Indigenous people to study health. I would like to some research on Aboriginal foot health in the future and possibly do a PhD.

 

 Vice President (currently vacant)

 

 

Noell Burgess

Descent: North Stradbroke Islander

Profession: Dietitian/Nutritionist - Queensland


I have worked nationally in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nutrition and health. I am currently a stay at home mother but have been participating in the development of an Indigenous Allied Health Network.  I completed a Graduate Diploma of Nutrition and Dietetics and a Bachelor of Applied Science at QUT in Brisbane.  I was last employed as a community dietitian with Queensland Health on the Gold Coast and previously was employed with the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy (DATSIP) to facilitate the development of a Nutrition Policy for Remote Retail Stores for use with stores managed by that Department.  Prior to that, I worked in North Western Queensland based in Mount Isa, providing outreach dietetic services to remote communities which were primarily Indigenous.

I have had experience on a national committee, as the Indigenous Nutrition representative on the Strategic Intergovernmental Nutrition Alliance (SIGNAL) and was also on the organizing committee for Nutrition Networks 1999 conference.

 

Anita Burns  

Descent:

Profession: Radiography -  Queensland    

 
I was born in Darwin N.T and relocated to Brisbane, aged 11 after cyclone Tracy in 1974. In 1999, I graduated with a bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Diagnostic Medical Imaging. I achieved this with the assistance and support of the Oodgeroo Unit at QUT, Brisbane. I commenced work in a private radiology practice and continued to train for seven years. In 2005 I became a mother of a gorgeous girl. This has changed my focus professionally and I have a great interest in paediatric health. I now work for Q-health at the Royal Children’s Hospital Brisbane and with the opportunity as a member of the steering committee, I look forward to assisting in any way to develop the IAHN.

 

Marilyn Morgan

Descent:

Profession: Physiotherapist - Western Australia

I graduated in 1972 and have worked in clinical practice and Community and Aboriginal Economic Development. 

 

Tara Lewis

Descent: Jiman woman from the Upper Dawson region, Taroom

Profession: Speech Pathologist - Queensland

 
I graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor Speech Pathology, University of Queensland and am working for the Southern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ear Health Program, Queensland Health. I am an adjunct lecturer with James Cook University and guest lecturer at University of Queensland where I provide information to 2nd and 3rd year students on culturally safe speech pathology practices. I have also presented papers and workshops at National Speech Pathology Australia conferences and State-wide Child Health conferences on ear health related issues. My current clinical and research interests include:

  • Ensuring culturally safe paediatric speech pathology practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Reducing the impact of conductive hearing loss and middle ear pathology in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Researching the play development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Development and evaluation of culturally safe school transitioning strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
 

Faye McMillan

Descent: Wiradjuri woman from Trangie - Central West, NSW

Profession: Pharmacist - NSW

 
I completed my pharmacy degree at the Charles Sturt University in 2001. My interest in pharmacy began when I was a pharmacy assistant in Trangie for three years. I am the first Aboriginal person in Australia to gain a pharmacy degree and to go onto registration as a pharmacist.

Prior to coming to the University of Wollongong  to work in the Indigenous Health program I worked as a pharmacist in remote areas such as the Tiwi Islands as well positions at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga.  I have undertaken further study and completed a Masters in Indigenous Health.

Outside of work I am actively involved in my Aboriginal community. I am a current member of the Trangie Local Aboriginal Land Council and have been a past board member of that organization.  I recently given birth to a beautiful baby boy, Ethan (5 months) who is a younger brother to Kye (21 months).

 

Kylie Stothers

Descent: Jawoyn woman

Profession: Social Worker - NT

 
I was born and raised in Katherine, NT. I am married (nee Wright) and a young mother of two children and come from a large extended family with strong ties in Katherine and surrounding communities.

I studied Social Work locally at NTU (now called Charles Darwin University) and after graduating from University I have spent the last 10 years working throughout the Northern Territory – both Top End and Central. I have worked in the areas of Child Protection, Hospital and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.  I am currently working part time as a Research Associate with the Centre for Remote Health in the Katherine Office.

I have a broad range of interests in Indigenous Health, with a particular interest in child and maternal health, social determinants of health, health promotion and Indigenous and NT specific workforce issues.  My passion and interest in Indigenous health relates to my own local NT Indigenous community experience (personal and professional) but I also have strong ties to my husband’s New Zealand Maori community.

I am currently a member of the AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) and also a committee member of the AASW sub-group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Workers.  I am also a member and Secretary of NCATSISW (National Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Workers).  I am also a current member of SARRAH (Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health).  Locally I am a current Board Member of KAFSU (Katherine Aboriginal Family Support Unit), which is a family violence legal prevention service.

 

Karla Canuto

Descent: Torres Strait Islander

Profession: Sports and Exercise Science – South Australia


I recently got married and changed my surname (nee Fell). In 2000 I completed a Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Science at James Cook University, Townsville. Since then I have worked in Brisbane as an Exercise Physiologist in private practice and worked in the Torres Straits doing Health Promotion. In 2007 I also completed a Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion at the University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Research Methodologies at the University of South Australia.

I am currently enrolled as a full time PhD student at the University of South Australia. My PhD research project is entitled, ‘Improving metabolic fitness in Indigenous women: a pragmatic controlled trial of waist loss’. The project is based around a 12 week physical activity and nutrition program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The program will  commence in Adelaide in early 2010. The aim of the program is to reduce the participant’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

 

Associate Professor Pat Dudgeon PhD FAPS

Descent: I am from Bardi people of the Kimberley

Profession: Psychology – Western Australia


I am known for my role in Indigenous higher education, particularly as I  headed the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University for some 19 years and led the organization through significant growth and change. My (recently completed) doctorate was entitled Mothers of Sin: Indigenous Women’s Perceptions of their Identity and Sexuality.

I have had significant involvement in psychology and Indigenous issues for many years. I was the first convener of the Australian Psychological Society Interest Group: Aboriginal Issues, Aboriginal People and Psychology and have been instrumental in convening many conferences and discussion groups at national levels to ensure that Indigenous issues are part of the agenda in the discipline. I have many publications in this area and am considered one of the ‘founding’ people in Indigenous people and psychology.  Currently I am the Chair of the Indigenous Australian Psychologists Association and in 2008, was the first Aboriginal psychologist to be awarded the grade of Fellow in the Australian Psychological Society.

I am currently a research fellow and an associate professor at the University of Western Australia, undertaking post doctoral research examining contemporary Aboriginal women’s roles and leadership.

 

Indigenous allied health professionals are networked with Board members. The members of the Board have a growing network with Indigenous colleagues in their profession. This way every Indigenous allied health professional can contribute to the planning of the work of Indigenous Allied Health Australia. If you are an Indigenous AH professional, why not JOIN US? If you want to be put in touch with your colleague on the Board, CONTACT US.