Helen Milroy facts for kids
Helen Milroy is a special kind of doctor called a psychiatrist. She helps kids and teenagers with their feelings and thoughts. She also leads a center that helps Aboriginal people with their health. Helen Milroy made history as the very first Indigenous Australian to become a medical doctor! She is also a talented storyteller who writes books for children.
About Helen Milroy
Helen Milroy was born in Perth, a city in Australia. Her family comes from the Palyku people, an Indigenous group from the Pilbara area in Western Australia.
Helen studied medicine at the University of Western Australia. In 1983, she became the first Indigenous Australian to qualify as a medical doctor. Later, she became a professor, teaching others about child and adolescent psychiatry.
Her sisters are also very talented! One is an artist and author named Sally Morgan. Her other sister, Jill Milroy, is also a professor.
In 2018, Helen Milroy was chosen for an important role. She became the first Indigenous commissioner for the Australian Football League, which is a big sports organization in Australia.
Awards and Recognition
Helen Milroy has received many awards for her amazing work.
- In 2011, she won the "Sigmund Freud Award" from the World Congress of Psychiatry. This award recognized her important contributions as an Indigenous health professional.
- In 2018, she was named the Australian Indigenous Doctor of the Year by the Australian Indigenous Doctor's Association (AIDA).
- In 2021, she was honored as the Western Australian of the Year. This award celebrates people who have made a big difference in their state.
- In 2023, Helen Milroy was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. This is a very high honor given to people who have achieved a lot and served their country.
Books for Young Readers
Helen Milroy is also a wonderful author. She has written many books for children, often sharing stories about animals and nature.
- Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories (2019)
- Backyard Birds (2020)
- Tales from the Bush Mob (2020)
- Willy-Willy Wagtail: Tales from the Bush Mob (2020)
- Backyard Bugs (2021)
- The Emu Who Ran Through the Sky (2021)
- Backyard Beasties (2022)
- The Sweetest Egg of All (2022)
- Owl and Star (2022)
- Bush Mob Counting (2022)
- Bush Birds (2023)
- The Cockatoo Wars (2023)
