People

Professor Pat Dudgeon is a Bardi woman from the Kimberley Western Australia and Australia’s first Aboriginal psychologist. Her career spans over 40 years, during which she has made a distinguished contribution to Indigenous psychology, social and emotional wellbeing, and suicide prevention.

Pat Dudgeon is a Research Fellow in the school of Indigenous Studies and Director of the National Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, as well as being a founding member of Australian Indigenous Psychologist Association and Gayaa Dhuwi Proud Spirit. She has also led the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University for 19 years. In her leadership roles, Professor Dudgeon is at the fore-front, initiating significant change in approaches to empowerment and inclusion of Indigenous people at all levels of mental health services.