Announced on the anniversary of the passing of Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG, an inaugural exhibition, 'LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy', will be held on Kaurna Country, Adelaide, in June and July 2025.
Tuesday 4 February marked the first anniversary of the passing of Lowitja Institute's co-patron, the late Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG.
A proud Yankunytjatjara woman, Dr O'Donoghue was a trailblazer whose impact across health, politics and advocacy saw her become one of Australia's most-recognisable Aboriginal leaders. Her values and vision live on in Lowitja Institute.
To commemorate Dr O'Donoghue on the anniversary of her passing, an inaugural exhibition, 'LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy', will be held on Kaurna Country, Adelaide, in June and July 2025. You can read more about this special tribute below, but personally, I’m really looking forward to experiencing the exhibition, reflecting on Dr O’Donoghue’s incredible legacy, and learning more about the remarkable woman who has made such a lasting impact.
The exhibition coincides with Lowitja Institute’s 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference, taking place on Kaurna Country, Adelaide from 16–19 June. Having been provided some behind-the-scenes insight into the exhibition’s content, I am sure anyone who takes the time to visit the exhibition will find it a powerful and inspiring tribute to Dr O’Donoghue's incredible achievements.
Speaking of both powerful women and our forthcoming conference, I am thrilled to announce the first international academics joining us at June’s International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference. We look forward to welcoming Professor Sheryl Lightfoot (Anishinaabe, Lake Superior Band) and Professor Rauna Kuokkanen (Sápmi), two leaders in Indigenous rights and politics in their respective homelands of Canada and Finland. You can read more about our Northern Hemisphere guests below.
Before I go, I wanted to mention the delivery of the Commonwealth Closing the Gap 2024 Annual Report this week. We know there is always plenty of commentary regarding the Closing the Gap report, but I’d recommend you begin by reading both the report and the 2025 Implementation Plan. By having a strong knowledge of what is contained in both these documents, we can be better equipped to navigate the noise and maintain our focus on positive health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Lowitja Institute will be developing the 2025 Close the Gap Campaign Report in coming months, so we look forward to updating you regarding this in a future issue of the Doris.
ngun-godjin
(thank you)
Paul Stewart CEO
LOWITJA – A life of Leadership and Legacy
Our co-patron, the late Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG’s remarkable life and lasting impact will be remembered and honoured in an inaugural exhibition portraying her most iconic, triumphant, and heartbreaking moments from childhood, a career in health, Indigenous activism, high-profile leadership, and stellar career in Australian Aboriginal Affairs.
The exhibition titled ‘LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy’ will be held at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery managed by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, University of South Australia in Adelaide, from 4 June to 25 July 2025. The exhibition is proudly presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, in partnership with the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation and Lowitja Institute, with the support of principal sponsor, the Government of South Australia.
WHEN: Wednesday 4 June 2025 to Friday 25 July 2025
WHERE: Kerry Packer Civic Gallery The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Kaurna Country, Adelaide
We are excited to confirm the first speakers for our 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference, taking place from 16–19 June 2025 on Kaurna Country, Adelaide. We look forward to welcoming Professor Sheryl Lightfoot and Professor Rauna Kuokkanen.
Professor Sheryl Lightfoot (Anishinaabe, Lake Superior Band) is a globally recognised expert in Indigenous rights and global politics. Sheryl is Professor in Political Science and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. She currently serves as the North American Member and former Chair of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP).
Professor Rauna Kuokkanen is from Ohcejohka/Utsjoki, Sápmi (Finland), and Research Professor of Arctic Indigenous Politics at the University of Lapland and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on comparative Indigenous politics and law, Indigenous feminism and gender, Arctic governance, and settler colonialism in the Nordic countries.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract for our conference. Abstract submissions are now closed. We have received an incredible response and we look forward to reviewing every submission, as we shape a rich and impactful conference program.
We will shortly open nominations for the biennial Lowitja Institute Awards as well as announce information on the application process for conference attendance grant opportunities.
Consider supporting the conference by becoming a sponsor or exhibitor. Show your commitment to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. Download the prospectus.
'Early Bird' registrations for the conference remain open – learn more and register on the conference website.
Tomorrow! Free Lowitja Journal workshop Building a Foundation: Key Concepts in Statistics and Epidemiology for Early Career Researchers
Our Lowitja Journal webinar, on 12 February 2025 (10-11.30am AEST), will feature Associate Professor Sungwon Chang, a Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Biostatistics) and Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney. She has amassed over 20 years of experience applying epidemiology and biostatistics in the field of public health and health services research.
Major Research Grants: congratulations to our new recipient organisations
We are excited to announce the successful recipient organisations in our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HealthMajor Research Grant 2024 Round.
Major Research Grants specifically support innovative and responsive community research led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of our mobs.
Photo: Major Research Grant recipient Waminda South Coast Women's Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation
Associate Professor Waikaremoana Waitoki has joined Professor Catherine Chamberlain as Co-Editor-In-Chief of First Nations Health and Wellbeing – The Lowitja Journal.
Dr Waitoki, who belongs to Ngaati Hako, Ngaati Mahanga tribes of Aotearoa New Zealand, is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato.
Dr Waitoki is currently working on special section for The Journal entitled, 'In solidarity: advancing Indigenous Rights and self-determination to improve health and wellbeing', which will form part of Volume 3.
Expressions of interest, International People’s Health University on The Political Economy of Colonialism and Health (5–11 October), and East and Asia Pacific Regional People’s Health Assembly on The Struggle for Health: Political Economy of the 21st Century Colonialism (12–15 October), Batchelor Institute, Kungarakan Country, Northern Territory
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