Aunty Lorraine Parsons

Aunty Lorraine Parsons is a proud Aboriginal woman who honours her mother's Alyawarr country. She is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of First Nations people.

She has worked as a clinical social worker, health service executive, senior public servant, research co-author, university lecturer and tutor. She has driven systems change at every level.

Aunty Lorraine began her working life aged 16 in the Commonwealth Public Service. This was when Aboriginal people were not counted in the census. And women received 75% of the male wage and had to leave the public service when they got married.

At age 39 she commenced a social sciences degree, then a postgraduate social work degree.

One landmark achievement was to lead all Victorian public hospital CEOs to sign the Statement of Intent to Close the Gap, alongside the Premier and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. This transformed mainstream hospitals’ engagement in improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing outcomes.

Aunty Lorraine continues to contribute to Aboriginal health and wellbeing as a Board Director at First Peoples Health and Wellbeing and as a lecturer at the University of Melbourne, shaping the next generation of social workers to practise with cultural safety and advocate for First Nations self-determination.

Aunty Lorraine shines a light on inequity, through her persistence, courage and deep community connection. The reforms she has initiated continue to benefit First Nations communities across Victoria.