About Us
Introducing the Elders
We pay our respects to the Elders who walk this journey with us: Aunty Cheryl Phillips, Uncle Peter Wilkes and Aunty Sandra Wilkes, and all the Elders with whom we have journeyed.
The Elders work directly with the School biddiyas/leadership, Academic and School staff to build their confidence, competence and capacity, through curiosity and compassion, to work relationally. Working biddiya to biddiya is the first principle to working relationally.
“Elders and family members have graciously given their time and shared their culture and wisdom with us all. The way they have welcomed our staff and students to walk alongside them to create respectful learning environments for a better future for all peoples, has been both rewarding and impactful. They have supported us to grow in our own knowledge of our shared history and have created opportunities for us to participate in their culture, on Country and share stories and events, so that we can work towards building university programs and social and health care services that are culturally safe, responsive and accessible for all people.”
– Professor Courtenay Harris, Head of School, 2024
“I think it’s important that they learn more about the cultural side of things and being with Elders. That is one way of achieving that goal. It’s important that they do spend time with the Elders and getting to know and learn. It’s a two way learning.”
– Uncle Peter Wilkes, 2024
Curtin School of Allied Health
The Curtin School of Allied Health is part of Curtin University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, based on the Bentley campus.
The School runs courses in Social Work, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Exercise and Sports Science.
Students studying at the School have access to on-campus clinics and labs and numerous off-site health service centres to develop their skills and knowledge as allied health professionals. This includes sites in Midland and Kalgoorlie.
School leadership
The leadership team support the Elders and the Debakarn team together with staff at the School, making it a priority to better understand Aboriginal ways of working, working relationally with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal service users, and training students to be culturally responsive graduates.
Uncle John Doe
“We are never too old to learn and we are all here to support each other, it all makes for a two-way learning process, and you have to live the life to understand it.”
Aunty Jane Doe
“If non-Aboriginal people weren’t here, I’d be standing here naked and proud in front of my mia mia (house), no electricity bill, no water bill, no light bill, on my country with all my family around me; we would all be happy.”
Aunty Jane Doe
“Well since being involved with the Looking Forward Project I sort of started coming out of my shell and talking more, not like before I used to be in the background. Now I can speak, you know.”
Uncle John Doe
“We are never too old to learn and we are all here to support each other, it all makes for a two-way learning process, and you have to live the life to understand it.”
Uncle John Doe
“If non-Aboriginal people weren’t here, I’d be standing here naked and proud in front of my mia mia (house), no electricity bill, no water bill, no light bill, on my country with all my family around me; we would all be happy.”
Aunty Jane Doe
“Well since being involved with the Looking Forward Project I sort of started coming out of my shell and talking more, not like before I used to be in the background. Now I can speak, you know.”