Members agree to advance a First Nations Voice in the PHAA
September 2025
Members of the Public Health Association of Australia have overwhelmingly agreed to establish a First Nations' Collective voice, to actively privilege the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (hereafter, respectfully First Nations peoples) in the decision making of our association. (Earlier updates appear below).
This decision was reached at the association's annual general meeting, which was held on the unceded Dharawal Country / Wollongong on 16 September 2025. Formalising the work of the Collective required a change to the association’s constitution, and a vote from its members.
The Co-Design Project team was led by the immediate past PHAA Vice President (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Dr Alana Gall a proud Truwulway woman from north-east Coast Lutruwita / Tasmania. It included Elders, and a Co-Design Strategy Group comprising early and mid-career Aboriginal researchers and practitioners in public health. Other members were First Nations mentees, and senior officials from the PHAA Governance structure including its president.
“A huge amount of work by myself and nine other Indigenous people – all volunteers – went into the two-year project to co-design the Indigenous governance model for the PHAA Collective,” Dr Gall, who is based at Southern Cross University, said in a statement.
“To see it accepted by most of the PHAA membership gives me hope post the failed Voice referendum, and makes all the hard work worth it.”
We are excited to provide you with an update on the progress of the First Nations Collective Co-Design Project. This is our first update since our October 2023 communique (below), and we’ve since made significant progress.
The next step of the Collective project will be determined by the Collective members, and facilitated by the incoming PHAA Vice President (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander), Associate Professor and proud Yorta Yorta woman, Summer May Finlay.
“It’s an honour to be leading the implementation of the First Nations Collective which will act as a First Nations Public Health Voice,” Associate Prof Finlay, who is based at the University of Wollongong, said.
“The process will, much like the initial stages, will be co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PHAA members, and key leaders.
“We hope that the development of the Collective will demonstrate the value of a First Nations Voice and encourages other organisations to follow the PHAA’s lead.”
The association remains steadfast in its support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart movement, which was supported by more than 6 million people, and movement’s goals of a Makarratta, Treaty.
"The country may have chosen in late 2023 to not accept the invitation to create a voice to parliament, but the PHAA has chosen to proceed with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to its operations,” PHAA President, Prof Caroline Miller, said.
“We are grateful to the Collective team to their many years of deliberations, and look forward to incorporating it into our organisation, and being guided by its vital work.”
Update: Communique, 11 July 2024
Introduction
The Public Health Association of Australia will establish a First Nations Collective, essentially a Collective Voice, to actively privilege the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (hereafter, respectfully First Nations peoples) in the decision making of our Association. We are excited to provide you with an update on the progress of the First Nations Collective Co-Design Project. This is our first update since our October 2023 communique (below), and we’ve since made significant progress.
What is the Collective Co-Design Project?
The First Nations Collective (the Collective) will be conceptualised through a rigorous and iterative co-design process. The First Nations Collective Team (the Team) will conduct the First Nations Collective Project (the Project). The main Project outcome will be a detailed outline of what the Collective could look like. It will then be up to us, the PHAA, to implement these recommendations and embed the Collective into the PHAA.
The Project is led by the current PHAA Vice President (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Dr Alana Gall. The Team includes Eldership and PHAA Governance, a Co-Design Strategy Group, First Nations Mentees, and Key Project Support. The Project will include direct involvement from all interested First Nations members of PHAA, and other First Nations Public Health professionals (non-members); their voices will be privileged in the co-design process. Further, all other interested PHAA members will also have the opportunity to be consulted. This participatory approach aligns with First Nations ways of being, knowing, and doing, ensuring that the resultant outline for the Collective reflects and respects Indigenous methodologies and perspectives.
What has happened?
In the closing months of 2023, as preparation for the Project began, internal discussions within PHAA, led by Dr Gall, identified concerns about the original timeline that Dr Gall felt did not allow for a rigorous Co-Design process. In response, Dr Gall made a submission to the PHAA Board to extend the timeline and seek approval for resources. The PHAA Board enthusiastically supported this extension and approved financial resourcing, allowing an experienced Project Manager with expertise in Public Health to join the team in March.
During March and April, First Nations Public Health professionals were approached to join the Team, and by June, most of the Team were announced. The Team includes Eldership and PHAA Governance, a Co-Design Strategy Group (led by Dr Gall) and First Nations Mentees, all supported by the Key Project Support.
The Governance for the Project includes Eldership and senior PHAA members.
• The Eldership have not been finalised as yet, but will be considered both Elders from their relative communities, and leaders in Public Health;
• The senior PHAA members are Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, PHAA’s CEO, and Professor Tarun Weeramanthri, PHAA’s current President.
The Co-Design Strategy Group are early and mid-career Aboriginal researchers and practitioners in Public Health. The Strategy Group are responsible for the strategic direction of the Collective Co-Design Project.
• Truwulway woman from north-east Coast Lutruwita woman, Dr Alana Gall (also holds the position of Vice President, PHAA);
• Kaurna, Narungga and Ngarrindjeri woman, Kelli Owen;
• Narungga and Ngarrindjeri man, Stephen Harfield;
• Wiradjuri Wailwaan and Thai person, Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse (also holds the position of First Nations Voice Cluster Convenor).
The Mentees are young First Nations women in Public Health. They support the work of the Strategy Group. Part of their inclusion in this project is a commitment to their own learning and professional development.
• Wiradjuri Wailwaan and Thai person, Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse (Leadership Mentee);
• Tiwi woman from the Pirriyangagimpipila/Wantarringuwi clan group from Jikilaruwu (Cape Fourcroy), Suzanne Munkara (Project Mentee);
• Ngarrindjeri, Narangga, and Irish woman, Kynesha Temple-Varcoe (Project Mentee).
The Key Project Support includes a vital administration and research support position.
• Truwulway woman, from the north-east coast of Lutruwita (Tasmania), Zyana Gall (Research Officer);
Work commenced in early 2024, first to recruit the Team, and then to establish strong relationships among the Team’s members. Mentees have worked closely with the Project Manager to conduct vital historical research and policy reviews to create a foundation for the truth telling component of the Project. Further, this is an important first step to developing a baseline structure for the Collective design, leading to the extensive co-design process. Indeed, the Project is well-positioned to meet the internal and external deadlines, with the detailed report outlining the recommended structure and function of the Collective to be available for PHAA members’ consideration in July 2025.
What happens next?
Immediate next steps involve formalising Eldership Governance, building on initial discussions with key Elders, and expanding these engagements. Once Eldership roles are established, the co-design component of the Project will commence, involving collaboration with PHAA staff and Board members, and extending outreach to the broader membership. Throughout the latter half of 2024 and early 2025, we anticipate the consultation and engagement process to commence, develop and evolve. We are enthusiastic to learn from and consider the thoughts, questions, recommendations and concerns from all PHAA members, with a particular emphasis on prioritising the voices of First Nations PHAA members in the Co-Design process.
First Nations individuals who are not yet PHAA members but wish to contribute to the Collective’s Co-Design are encouraged to access our First Nations membership special rate.
What is the request?
As we enter the Co-Design stage of the Project, we invite responses from First Nations peoples, both PHAA members or non-members working in Public Health, about how they would like to engage with the process.
Current members who identify as First Nations will receive direct communication from us. Non-members are encouraged to email [email protected], and we will respond.
We eagerly anticipate sharing a substantial update at the Australian Public Health Conference in September 2024 on Whadjuk Noongar boodja (boodja meaning Country in Noongar language) / Perth.