Pat Turner (Aboriginal activist) facts for kids

Pat Turner AM (born 1952) is an important Aboriginal Australian leader. She comes from the Gudanji and Arrernte communities. Pat Turner has worked for many years in government to help Indigenous people have more control over their own lives. This is called self-determination.

In 1990, she received the Order of Australia award for her great work. As of 2020, Pat Turner is part of a special group. This group helps plan how Indigenous people can have a stronger voice in government decisions.

Pat Turner also leads the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Peak Organisations. This group is often called the Coalition of Peaks.

In 2019, the Coalition of Peaks and Australian governments made an important agreement. It was about "Closing the Gap" between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. In 2020, a new National Agreement was signed. It set 16 goals and four main changes to help improve life for Indigenous Australians.

Pat Turner's Early Life

Patricia Ann Turner was born in 1952 in Alice Springs, Australia. Her mother was from the Gudanji people. Her father's family was from the Arrernte people. Pat was the middle child in a family of five. She loved reading from a young age.

Her father had his own business building windmills. Sadly, he died in a work accident when Pat was 11. Her great-uncle, Charles Perkins, was also a famous Aboriginal activist. He inspired her to value education and Aboriginal traditions. Her mother faced challenges getting help after her father died. This experience helped Pat become a strong supporter of women's rights.

Pat went to primary school in Alice Springs. Then she went to Adelaide Girls High School and lived in a hostel. Even though she missed her family, her relatives in Adelaide helped her learn about politics. They took her to meetings of the Aboriginal Progress Association. Later, she went to Nailsworth Technical College to learn job skills. After graduating, she traveled and worked in different places. She finished her higher education in Melbourne.

Working for Change

Starting Her Public Service Career

In 1972, Pat Turner started working for the Australian government. She became a community welfare officer for a new department called the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA). She was the first woman to hold this job in Alice Springs. Pat worked to connect Aboriginal communities with the government. She focused on programs for young people and health.

In 1976, she studied social work. But she felt that the classes only offered quick fixes, not real solutions. She joined student groups that wanted big changes. Pat became involved in the Aboriginal rights movement, environmental protection, and the women's rights movement. That same year, she became vice president of a group called the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). She encouraged other students to get involved in politics.

Leading in Government Roles

Pat moved to Canberra in 1978. She worked to find government jobs that Indigenous people could fill. At that time, the government thought only a few jobs were right for Aboriginal people. Pat worked to change unfair rules and get more funding for Aboriginal Australians.

In 1985, she became the director of the DAA office in Alice Springs. After a year, she moved up to a higher role in the DAA. She worked there for three years. In 1989, she became the Deputy Secretary of the DAA. In 1990, she was honored with the Order of Australia for her public service. From 1991 to 1992, she worked in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. She helped set up the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the Office of the Status of Women.

Becoming a Top Indigenous Official

In 1994, Pat Turner became the most senior Indigenous government official in Australia. She was made the CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. She held this important role for four years. During this time, she earned her master's degree. Her thesis was about how government policy for Aboriginal people changed from controlling them to letting them participate.

After this, Pat worked at Georgetown University in the United States for 18 months. She taught about Australian studies there.

Later Career and Health Leadership

When she returned to Australia, Pat worked in senior roles at Centrelink and the Department of Health. She retired from government service in 2006. From 2006 to 2010, she helped create National Indigenous Television (NITV). In 2011, she joined an advisory group for health. In 2016, she became the CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO). This organization helps provide health services for Aboriginal communities.

In 2019, Pat Turner was chosen to be one of 20 members of a Senior Advisory Group. This group helps design the Indigenous voice to government. This is a way for Indigenous people to have a say in laws and policies that affect them. The group is led by Ken Wyatt, Marcia Langton, and Tom Calma.