Aunty Millie Penny was awarded the 2021 NAIDOC Award for her services to the Aboriginal community. Aunty Millie is a co-researcher and one of 23 Elder co-researchers working with the Looking Forward research team at Curtin University in the School of Allied Health. In this role, Aunty Millie works directly with services to advise them on ways to engage with Aboriginal families seeking support for mental health and drug and alcohol concerns.

Aunty Millie also works alongside the executive staff at the WA Council of Social Services, along with Elder Aunty Charmaine Pell, to provide cultural guidance and community connection across the sector in the work WACOSS does with its member organisations.

The Looking Forward research team is so proud to be working with Aunty Millie and all the Elder co-researchers to change the way services are accessed by and respond to Aboriginal families, so they feel culturally safe and valued. It is through working together hand in hand with the Aboriginal community that structural and systems change is possible.

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