Adjunct Associate Professor Carmen Parter

Carmen Parter is a proud descendent of the Darumbal and Juru clans of the Birra Gubba Nation of Queensland with south sea island heritage connected to Tanna Island of the Republic of Vanuatu.

She started her health career as a registered nurse, a registered midwife and practiced as an Aboriginal Woman’s Health Nurse Practitioner.  Overtime Carmen started working in policy areas of government including in child protection, law and justice and health. She has seventeen years’ experience in Aboriginal health with six of these in the role of Director for Aboriginal Health in NSW.  In this role, she was responsible for leading statewide Aboriginal health policy, planning and funding agenda across NSW Health.  It also gave her opportunities for influencing the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health agenda particularly as chair of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Standing Committee.

In short, Carmen has been a clinician, educator, researcher, policy advisor, project officer, manager and senior executive spanning a public servant career of over 30 years.  She has an Adjunct Associate Professor appointment with the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Sydney.

Under the Wingara Mura Leadership Academy program, an early career academic initiative, Carmen is undertaking a Doctorate of Philosophy at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of Sydney.  She possesses a Master in Public Administration, a Master of Arts in Indigenous Social Policy, a Professional Certificate in Indigenous Research, a Diploma of Community Services and, a Certificate IV in Training, Assessment and Education.

Carmen is currently the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) Vice President for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues responsible for advising the PHAA on national issues relating to Indigenous Australians regarding public health and population health issues.