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Professor Patricia Dudgeon - a Bardi woman and psychologist who works at The University of Western Australia - has won an Indigenous Allied Health Australia Lifetime Achievement Award (IAHA).

Professor Dudgeon was born and raised in Darwin and her tribal affiliation is descended from the Bardi people of the Kimberley.

In her varied career, Professor Dudgeon has worked in prisons and as a captain in the Army Reserve as a psychologist for the Defence Forces.  The first Aboriginal practitioner to become a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society, Professor Dudgeon has been involved in countless organisations and initiatives and was the inaugural Chair of the Australian Indigenous Psychologists' Association.  She is also a National Mental Health Commissioner.

Professor Dudgeon is co-Chair of the Australian Psychological Society's Reconciliation Action Plan executive management group.

Her most recent work has been with the National Empowerment Program, a universal strategy to promote social and emotional wellbeing and reduce community distress and suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities.

She was Head of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University for nearly 20 years before joining UWA as research fellow.

Earlier this year, Professor Dudgeon, from UWA's School of Indigenous Studies, won a Deadly - the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport and Entertainment, and Community Awards.  She was feted at the Deadlys for her work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and suicide prevention, and also in trauma, loss and grief.

Professor Dudgeon's most recent award, the IAHA, recognises her outstanding contribution over many years and her passion for helping her people.

Media references

Professor Patricia Dudgeon (UWA School of Indigenous Studies)  (+61 8)  6488 6927
David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716