Prestigious scholarship to help Indigenous research into perinatal care

09 July 2024

Naomi Thornthwaite has been announced as the 2024 recipient of the Neville Fazulla Aboriginal Health Memorial Scholarship.

Ms Thornthwaite says the career support will enable her to dedicate more time to her PhD studies into the social and emotional wellbeing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders mothers and their support people.

Naomi Thornthwaite (3rd from left) with WCHN CEO Rebecca Graham, ACRA Co-Leader Karen Glover, Neville Fazulla's sister Sandra Van Diermen, SAHMRI ED Prof Maria Makrides and Wardliparingga Co-Leader A/Prof Kim Morey.

“This scholarship will make such a difference,” she said.

“I never got to meet Neville but hearing a little about his work and his life from his sister, Sandra, was really quite moving.

“Also hearing from Luke Cantley, a previous scholarship recipient, about his career and what he’s passionate about, it feels really good to be part of that legacy.”

The Chair of SAHMRI’s Board, the Hon. Hieu Van Le AC, says the scholarship presentation is the feature event on SAHMRI’s NAIDOC Week calendar.

“Because that’s what NAIDOC Week is – a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements,” he said.

“It is fair to say that Neville Fazulla embodied everything for which NAIDOC week stands. He valued history and the lessons we can learn from it to forge a better future. He carried culture for the ongoing strength of his community. And his achievements were significant, in particular in the provision of health services for those in marginalised communities.”

Neville passed away in 2017, aged 52. Prior to that, he dedicated his life to improving health system’s responses to the specialised needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The objective of the scholarship named in his honour is to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people studying at university within non-clinical health related fields, acknowledging the importance of non-clinical roles within the health workforce.