SPEAKERS
We've got a great lineup of inspirational and motivational speakers to stimulate discussion and get everyone thinking!
Jack Wilson - Deadly Ninja Warrior
Jack Wilson is a proud Kalkadoon man from North West Queensland whose rise to fame came after being a contestant on Season 2 of Australian Ninja Warrior where he was known as the “Deadly Ninja”.
Jack had a difficult upbringing and had begun heading down a path of drug and alcohol abuse, but he decided to make a change and began long distance running as a way to overcome his struggles. This was a turning point for Jack and is where he discovered his passion for healthy eating and exercise.
Jack openly shares his learnings as a way to help inspire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children to live a healthy life and to strive to achieve their goals.
Elsie Seriat OAM
A Wagadagum woman from the Migi Buai tribe of Mabuiag Island in the Torres Strait, Elsie Seriat OAM is a marathon runner with a desire to improve the health of communities like hers. Inspired by stories from other runners about using running as a tool for positive change, she went from 'couch potato' to part of the Indigenous Marathon Program training squad and competed in the New York Marathon.
She started the TI Deadly Runners group and organised the inaugural Thursday Island Running Festival. Elsie has worked with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation and currently inspires the Thursday Island community to be more active through her role as Health and Wellbeing Coordinator for Torres Health Indigenous Corporation.
Bryce Taylor
Bryce Taylor is a Worimi man from the Sunshine Coast. He has spent the past 2 years developing and delivering culturally applicable content that aims to equip Indigenous students with the fundamental skills to become coherent around their mental health. Enabling students to approach mental ill health in a way that suits their own individual personalities, and goals. TheMIND program can be described as 'empowering every young person to be the best version of themselves' with a strong emphasis on strengths based practices.
Arthur Little
Arthur Little is a proud Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi man and Former Professional Rugby Union and League Player for the Waratahs, Australian Sevens, Randwick DRUFC as well as the Illawarra Steelers, Canberra Raiders and West Tigers. His footy career has taken him around the globe from Italy to Ireland, Hong Kong to France. Arthur’s goal is to connect with and inspire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids across the country to be the best they can be.
Deadly Thinking Youth
Deadly Thinking YOUTH is all about providing the tools to help our young people handle the pressures we all face in our lives. Culturally tailored workshops involve yarning about a range of issues affecting young people, including: dealing with worries; improving awareness and understanding about what causes depression, anxiety and suicide; connecting with culture and country as a way of staying strong; and dealing with today's social and emotional wellbeing challenges.
Professor James Ward
A descendant of the Pitjantjatjara and Nurrunga clans of central and southern Australia, Professor James Ward has more than 20 years' experience working within Aboriginal health and communities in Australia. Currently, he is the Head of Infectious Diseases Research Program - Aboriginal Health at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). During the last five years he has progressed research in the areas of sexually transmissible infections, blood borne viruses, vaccine preventable diseases, and offender health.
Blackfit Fitness
Blackfit specialise in programs that empower children and communities to make healthy lifestyle choices and live quality healthy lives. They believe that education is key tin Closing the Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the driving force behind improving the quality of life for all Australians. They aim to motivate, educate and empower ALL Australians on not only improving their physical health but also their mental health.
The Lighthouse Mob
The Lighthouse is an after hours program that provides a safe space for young people in Townsville. The people who attend are able to access meals, shower facilities and a bed for rest. Interactive supervised engagement activities such as sport, fitness and creative programs are also provided. The Lighthouse Mob collaborated with Desert Pea Media to create a song called 'Lead The Way'. It was the result of an intensive storytelling experience, with Elders, community members, young people and staff having conversations about issues facing the community.
Casey Coolwell
Aboriginal artist and graphic designer, Casey Coolwell, is a Quandamooka, Nunukul woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) with links to the Erub and Biri people of Bowen, working under the name CHABOO. The word CHABOO was created using the first three letters of her ‘Fur Babies’ names Chanchi and Boomer. Animals play a huge part in Aboriginal culture, in the past they helped provide food and protection.
Sammy Leone
Sammy Leone of the Boss Boxing is a Garawa and Butchulla descendant with bloodlines throughout the Pacific Islands. Throughout his youth he lived in partially challenging environments facing disadvantage that many people from a low socioeconomic community face on a daily basis. At a low point in his life Sammy found himself at a crossroads and via a cultural and spiritual experience, he made a decision to take the steps to improve his situation.
As a result he decided to make positive health choices and commenced boxing lessons. This saw Sammy winning regional, state and national boxing titles.
During this period Sammy commenced study and completed Diplomas in community welfare, youth work and community services coordination. And has now been working within the community services sector and education for over a decade.
Kirrily Phillips
Kirrily Phillips is a proud Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr woman who has spend much of her life in Brisbane. She is a mother of three beautiful jarjums and has a strong passion for improving the health and well being of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by supporting equal opportunities.
Since graduation from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy and a Post-Graduate Certificate with the University of Adelaide in Dental Science, Kirrily has focused her career as an Oral Health Therapist on helping empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through better access, support and clinical practice in the oral health care setting.
For the past seven years, Kirrily has worked with two of the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health organisations in south-east Queensland. She has built her foundations working amongst a multidisciplinary primary health care team, closely following culturally appropriate, safe and accepted models of care. More recently, she has driven several oral health care plans for ATSICHS with focus on Kindergarten students and aged care residence.
Kirrily is committed to delivering fresh perspectives to ensure stronger links between oral health care and culturally appropriate health care systems to ultimately improve the oral health and overall health of her community.
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council l www.qaihc.com.au