Lowitja Institute Statement Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG

A true trailblazer, leader and advocate for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Indigenous peoples globally, Dr O’Donoghue lived a remarkable life and made an enormous contribution to public life and the pursuit of justice and equity. [...] As the inaugural chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health (1996–2003), later to become the Lowitja Institute in 2010, Dr O’Donoghue worked tirelessly to reform Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research through ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and researchers were in the driving seat to influence better health outcomes. [...] An inspiration to many, she received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1983 and Australian of the Year in 1984, and became the first Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly. [...] When Dr O’Donoghue entrusted her name to the Lowitja Institute, she told us to be a courageous organisation, committed to social justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to match words to action, and be known for working fearlessly for change and improvement in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. [...] We are humbled and honoured to have had her leadership and guidance throughout our history, and it is due to her strength, rigour and support that Lowitja Institute has become a national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and research.