Board of Directors
Colleen Kelly
Yamatji, Chairperson
Colleen Kelly is a Nhunnagadi Wilunyu woman from the Yamatji nation of Western Australia. She is a Lecturer in the Gukwonderuk Indigenous unit of Monash University, Melbourne working in the area of Indigenous health equity. Colleen is a Registered Nurse with post graduate and masters qualifications in emergency nursing, Indigenous health and Indigenous leadership. Colleen is particularly interested in influencing the Australian health system so the perspectives of Indigenous Australians can be privileged. She is a current PhD student exploring the experiences of Indigenous health students through story. Colleen joined the board of FPHW in 2019. She is humbled by the opportunity to work with an amazing team of Indigenous peoples committed to the common goal of providing exemplary, culturally appropriate health care for community.
Qualifications
RN,BN,GradDip(Emergency),MN,GradCertEd(IndigenousLeadership),CertIV TAE
Aunty Lorraine Parsons
Alyawarr
Aunty Lorraine is an Aboriginal woman who identifies with her mother's Alyawarr country and brings together her Aboriginal identity and her extensive experience in health. Aunty Lorraine has worked in clinical social work, management and executive roles in acute, community, government and Aboriginal health.
Aunty Lorraine is currently a sessional academic lecturer and tutor in Social Work at University of Melbourne
Board Director of cohealth and Chair of cohealth community Advisory committee
Member of the Australian Institute of Family Studies Ethics Committee
Qualifications
BA, BSW, GradCertMgt
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Samantha Paxton
Waywurru
Samantha Paxton is a Waywurru woman, born and raised on Boon Wurrung Country. She is currently part of Weenthunga Health Networks Leadership Team, in the role of Durrong Ngulu (a Woiwurrung term, meaning ‘join voices’). Weenthunga is a First Nations-led, state-wide organisation contributing to health equity and justice in many ways. Prior to working at Weenthunga, Sam spent time on Weenthunga’s Committee of Management. She’s undertaken work in social and emotional wellbeing across many organisations in roles as employee, advisor and consultant. This includes five years employed at VACCHO, co-creating the headspace Yarn Safe campaign, and establishing health service partnerships for an Aboriginal Early Years Centre. She is an active Member of the Indigenous Allied Health Association (IAHA) and currently sit on the Canada and Australia Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Youth Committee.
Sam’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)/Bachelor of Business (Management) from Monash University, Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching, Certificate IV in Indigenous Leadership and a National Mediation Accreditation Certificate. She brings a passion for Aboriginal holistic social and emotional wellbeing, drive to contribute to better health access and outcomes for mob, critical consciousness, relationships/connections in health, and love of culture and community.
Qualifications
BA (Psych), BBus (Mgt)
Jimi Peters
Yorta Yorta
Jimi Peters is a proud Yorta Yorta man from Shepparton and is a descendant of the Briggs and Cooper Clans. Jimi has been working in Aboriginal Health at many levels for over 30 years, working at VACCHO for over 15 years in roles including Aboriginal Eye Health State-wide Coordinator, Cultural Awareness Trainer, Medicare Enhancement Officer, Corporate Services, Indigenous Health Project Officer and the Manager of Public Health and Research.
He currently works at Oxfam as their National Partnership Leader. Jimi is a strong believer in Aboriginal Community Control and believes that Aboriginal health is best achieved by Aboriginal people being empowered to address their own health needs at a local level.
Jacynta Krakouer
Mineng Noongar
Jacynta Krakouer is a Mineng Noongar woman from southern Western Australia. She lives and works on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm. Born in Subiaco, Jacynta grew up in Naarm and has lived in Naarm for most of her life. A social worker by background, Jacynta is an academic working in health and social care research, with her particular expertise in relation to child protection and out-of-home care.
She is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Health and Social Care Unit (HSCU) at Monash University. An early career researcher, Jacynta’s PhD in social work at the University of Melbourne focused on cultural connection for First Nations children and young people in out-of-home care in Victoria.
Jacynta previously worked as an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the University of Melbourne, and has sat on multiple expert committees relating to First Nations children and young people in child protection and out-of-home care. Jacynta is passionate about Indigenous self-determination and Indigenous-led research. She is committed to advocating for the needs of First Nations families who experience contact with multiple systems across health and social care.
Qualifications
BSc, MSW, MSP, PhD Melb