Article
March 11, 2026
January and February are often months of preparation, setting strategic direction, strengthening partnerships and ensuring that the year ahead is grounded in clarity and purpose. This year has been no different. In January, I commenced my role as Acting First Nations Commissioner with the interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission. It is a short term, part…
Article
December 12, 2025
When I look back on this year, I’m incredibly proud of what our Tackling Indigenous Smoking network has achieved together. From community barbecues and school visits through to keynote addresses and national policy forums, you have shown again that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lead the work, we see real change. One of…
Article
October 1, 2025
Earlier last month we gathered on Gadigal Country for the 2025 National Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) CEO Workshop. I was honoured to open the day with a challenge to all leaders in the room: evaluate our collective achievements and prepare with determination for the 2027–31 funding bid. The TIS program exists for one purpose, to…
Article
July 28, 2025
As we round out another busy month in the Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) program, I am once again reminded of the commitment of our workforce. Whether through education sessions in remote communities or bold social campaigns reaching younger audiences, the work of TIS staff across the country continues to be critical to the health of…
Article
June 27, 2025
These past few months have taken me right across the country, from Mapoon to Melbourne, Canberra to Darwin, and every conversation I’ve had reinforces something I’ve always known when we come together, we’re unstoppable. Whether I’m talking with health workers on the ground, community leaders, or the policymakers, the message is clear. We won’t settle…
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April 30, 2025
Today I’ll be part of the Public Health Association of Australia’s Preventive Health Conference in Canberra on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country. The conference theme is ‘Prevention is political’ and the session I’m involved in is titled ‘Indigenous Health is Political: Challenging Systems, Building Solutions’. It’s a big conference and it should be a good event…
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March 27, 2025
I’m currently staying at Taronga Zoo’s accommodation complex for the night as part of a University of Sydney event, so I have a group of kangaroos directly outside my window. I’m looking forward to hearing the lions roaring and the monkeys chattering later this evening. I wanted to begin by recognising that a number of…
