Flinders University including its Poche Centre for Indigenous Health are mourning the passing of friend, colleague and former Poche Director, Professor Dennis McDermott. Professor McDermott’s funeral will be held on Thursday 9 April 2020 at 1:15pm (AEST), livestreamed at https://www.belindajanevideo.com/client-video/dennis-mcdermott/.
Professor McDermott’s passing has engendered a profound sense of loss in those who had the privilege of working with him, nationally and internationally, such was his integrity and passion.
A proud Koori man, his mother’s family are from Gadigal land (inner Sydney) with connections to Gamilaroi country (north west NSW).
Professor McDermott started at Flinders University in 2008 as the Associate Professor in Indigenous Health within the (former) Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. In 2011 he was appointed as the inaugural Director of the new Flinders University Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Well-Being (SA), with expansion to direct both the SA and NT Poche Centres in 2017.
In 2019 he was appointed to the position of Pro Vice Chancellor, Indigenous, at La Trobe University in Victoria. He maintained full Academic status with Flinders University and continued to collaborate actively with many in our community.
Throughout his university career he continued to bring his strong Indigenous voice, wisdom and passion to the Poche Indigenous Health Network, often leading the hard conversations at the annual Key Thinkers Forum around Indigenous health, racism, incarceration, policy equity and social justice.
His publications and contributions to cultural safety and international Indigenous health pedagogy were profound. His uncanny ability to bring people together and his First Nation worldwide connections were frequently demonstrated through his beloved Twitter handle @redshoeclick.
Professor McDermott was not only an acclaimed academic, he was a psychologist, poet, teacher, educator, father and much more.
To his family, in particular Melanie, Pearl and Sophie, he was everything.
To his colleagues, he will be remembered as a gentleman, a friend and a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights.
An award is being set up in Professor McDermott’s honour. His family request that in lieu of floral tributes, people consider donating to the Dennis McDermott Memorial Award — https://alumni.latrobe.edu.au/dennis-mcdermott-memorial-award.
Please direct any enquiries to the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health via Liz Larkin on poche@flinders.edu.au or 08 7221 8599.