Lisa Jackson Pulver facts for kids

Lisa Rae Jackson Pulver AM (born 1959) is an Aboriginal Australian epidemiologist. An epidemiologist is a scientist who studies how diseases spread and how to prevent them. Lisa Jackson Pulver is also a researcher focusing on Aboriginal health. Since October 2018, she has been a Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Sydney.

Early Life and Learning Journey

Lisa Rae Jackson was born in Stanmore in 1959. She grew up in Revesby. Her father served in the Second World War and faced personal challenges. Lisa learned that she had Aboriginal ancestors on both sides of her family. She identifies as a Koori woman. Her family has connections to south-western New South Wales and South Australia.

Lisa faced a difficult childhood and left home at age 14. At 17, she went to Bankstown Technical College. She took a nursing course and then trained at Lidcombe Hospital. Later, she decided to study medicine at the University of Sydney.

During her studies, she helped start the University's Wokal Kangara Aboriginal Student's Association. She was the first person in her family to attend university. She earned a degree in public health.

Lisa Jackson Pulver received her PhD in medicine from the University of Sydney in 2003. She is the first known Aboriginal person to achieve this award. Her PhD focused on how health services can be safer and better for Aboriginal people.

Career in Aboriginal Health

In 2003, Lisa Jackson Pulver became a lecturer in Aboriginal health. She worked at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She was very important in creating Muru Marri. This is a special unit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health at UNSW. She was also the first Chair of Aboriginal Health there.

She helped create the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship Program at UNSW. This program offers scholarships and housing for Indigenous students.

Later, Lisa Jackson Pulver worked at Western Sydney University. She held important roles there, including Pro Vice-Chancellor. In October 2018, she became Deputy Vice Chancellor. This role focuses on Indigenous Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney.

Lisa Jackson Pulver has worked with many important groups. These include the National Health and Medical Research Council. She also worked with the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In 2010, she joined the board of the Lowitja Institute. This is Australia's national group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research.

In 2004, Lisa Jackson Pulver joined the Royal Australian Air Force. She worked as a public health epidemiologist in the Specialist Reserve. She advised the Chief of Air Force. She also helped set up the RAAF's Directorate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. She was involved in creating the RAAF's Indigenous Youth Program.

Awards and Recognition

Lisa Jackson Pulver has received many awards for her work. In 2005, she was honored for her contributions to cancer epidemiology. In 2006, she received the Henry Stricker Community Honour. This award recognized her efforts to make society a better place.

In 2011, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This award recognized her service to medical education. It also honored her support for educational opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 2021, she became a fellow of the Royal Society of NSW.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Lisa met Mark Pulver in 2001, and they later married. She chose to become Jewish in 2004. She became president of Newtown Synagogue in 2010. She was the first woman to hold this role. She believes that being Jewish fits well with her beliefs as an Aboriginal woman.

Lisa Jackson Pulver has always supported political causes. She marched with Aboriginal people for land rights in the 1970s and 1980s. She continues to support these important issues today.