2026 Winner: First Peoples Alumnus Award, Health
Bachelor of Nursing, 2006
Adrienne is a proud Wiradjuri and Ngemba woman with over eighteen years of clinical experience as a Registered Mental Health Nurse across diverse settings. She is an Aboriginal Senior Therapeutic Practitioner and Lecturer specialising in intergenerational trauma, resilience, Indigenous health, and strengths-based healing for Aboriginal communities.
How do you describe what you do in one sentence?
I support the healing and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and families, and teach future nurses to practice with genuine Cultural Safety.
Why does your work matter?
My work matters because it supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities to be seen, understood and cared for in ways that honour culture—and it helps shape the next generation of nurses to do the same.
What inspired you to pursue your current career path?
My career has been shaped by a commitment to Cultural Safety and to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families with Yindyamarra—moving slowly, gently, politely, and with honour. Eighteen years of clinical work across acute, forensic, rural and adolescent mental health settings led me toward therapeutic practice, then into nursing education, and finally into research—where I hope to help shape the policies that affect our people.
What challenges or obstacles shaped who you are?
Being Aboriginal in nursing hasn't always been the easiest journey. Early on, I didn't disclose my Aboriginality—I wasn't confident enough in my own role as a nurse yet, let alone bringing my culture into that space. I've navigated culturally unsafe systems both within nursing and, now, within academia. Learning to be proudly Aboriginal in these spaces has taken time, reflection, and—most of all—support from my mob. One of the biggest supports has been CATSINaM, the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives. They're fantastic at helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives find their place, take pride in bringing culture into their work, and recognise just how important that work really is.
Can you share a specific initiative or current project you are working on that excites you?
At the moment I'm leading a Therapeutic Foster Care training program at VACCA, a webinar series supporting non-Aboriginal foster carers to work in culturally safe, trauma-informed ways with Aboriginal children in their care. I'm also completing a Master of Indigenous Health by Research, exploring how culture, kinship, community and Country support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
How do you approach leadership in your work and community involvement?
I’m particularly drawn to the concept of eldership—the way our Elders lead not just through cultural authority, but through the respect they've earned over a lifetime of words and actions. It's something of deep respect, given to you by community because of your good actions. By trying to lead well within community, I'm aspiring to one day be a good Elder and show true leadership through eldership.
What positive changes are you seeing in your field?
There's a slow but real shift underway—society is starting to recognise the important place Indigenous knowledges hold in every part of life, and to appreciate what an advanced, intelligent culture we have, with over 65,000 years of ways of knowing, being and doing. I'm excited to see what comes next: having Aboriginal people properly in these spaces, bringing culture up, and walking alongside each other to share what we know.
Tell us something that might surprise others to learn about you.
I can speak some Wiradjuri language—I studied Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage at Charles Sturt University alongside my mum, and between us we can hold small conversations in language. My dogs, Yinaa and Gidyi, are trained in Wiradjuri commands too, so they'll only respond when they're spoken to in language.
What does it mean to you to be recognised by Griffith?
This recognition means a lot to me, and I want it to reflect back onto the people who supported me along the way—my mum, for her support throughout my studies; Kerry Hall, for her support later in my studies and for helping me understand how my culture pertains to my mental health practice; and Hayley Mongta, a current colleague I appreciate and look up to.
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