The Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Flinders Northern Territory, under the auspice of the College of Medicine and Public Health (CMPH), has recently appointed two new Elders on Campus, Mr Richard Fejo and Dr Pat Miller AO.

The Senior Elder on Campus and Elder on Campus position descriptions align with the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health’s strategic vision: “To create a life-course approach to promote cultural learning pathways, support healthy country and build leadership capacity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health”. It is anticipated the core functions of these roles will form a culturally stimulating, inclusive and complimentary education package that can be adapted based on the diverse practices of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, with flexibility in delivery to suit various scenarios and geographical settings.

The Senior Elder on Campus, Mr Richard “Balang/Japaljarri” Fejo, is a Larrakia man (his father’s country) and Wurramungu from Tennant Creek (his mother’s country). Richie has presented Larrakia Welcome to Country in Darwin since 1994 and is a locally recognised and accepted Elder in his community. Richie is serving in his third year as the Chairman of the Larrakia Nation in Darwin and he recently joined the board for the NT Australia Day Council. Richie was previously employed by Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE) for eleven years. In this role he spent nine years as the Senior Cultural Educator and five years as the Co-Chair of the National Cultural Educator and Cultural Mentor Network.

Alice Springs Elder on Campus, Dr Pat Miller AO, is a Traditional Owner and Native Title Holder of Alice Springs and accepted by the community as an Arrernte Elder. Pat is well respected for her cultural knowledge and expertise and received a doctorate from Flinders University in 2013 in acknowledgement of her ability to provide culturally appropriate guidance during many years of employment and leadership within Central Australia. Pat has over a decade of experience with Remote Health Central Australia and was the CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service.

Collectively Richie and Pat have comprehensive knowledge of the issues faced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians, as well as influence in the Northern Territory communities that Flinders University are responsible to. Their roles are imperative to the success of the Poche strategic plan, the CMPH Rural and Remote Indigenous Health Strategy and Indigenous Implementation Plans, and are invaluable to Flinders University.

For more information on the Elder on Campus initiative please contact Richie Fejo on richard.fejo@flinders.edu.au.

General enquiries for the Flinders University Poche Centre for Indigenous Health may be directed to the Executive Officer Liz Larkin on poche@flinders.edu.au.