Institute of Advanced Studies

Journeys of Love and Activism: Aboriginal women sharing the caring

Aboriginal women have a long and proud history as custodians of care and connection within and between families.

Throughout modern history this role has evolved to include advocacy and activism as Aboriginal women (and men) have fought for the rights of their children, their Elders, their people and their Country. Alongside this, Aboriginal women have also carried their own burdens of trauma with dignity, resilience and strength.

In this lecture Dr Tamara Mackean, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, UWA, explored the contemporary nature of Aboriginal family and kinship; the role Aboriginal women have played and continue to play in reducing disparities in life experienced by Aboriginal people; and the healing journeys many Aboriginal women take not only for themselves but for their communities.

Dr Mackean  illustrated the above with her family’s story and her own journey as an Aboriginal doctor and leader through adversity and success, as well as drew on examples of other Aboriginal women and their accomplishments. A personal family poem concluded the address.

The annual Grace Vaughan Memorial Lecture is a partnership arrangement between the Australian Association of Social Workers, The University of Western Australia and the Department for Communities, Office for Women’s Policy.

The Grace Vaughan Memorial Lecture is held annually to commemorate the life and achievements of Grace Vaughan who died in 1984. She was a social worker, social activist and parliamentarian who was dedicated to the improvement of life at all levels and had a deep commitment to Australia’s participation in the Asian region and to ensuring women’s full participation in society.

Thursday, 5 March 2009