Sue Gordon facts for kids

Sue Gordon is a respected Aboriginal leader from Western Australia. She is a retired magistrate, which is a type of judge who works in local courts. She is famous for her work to improve the lives of Aboriginal people and for leading an important investigation called the Gordon Inquiry.

This inquiry looked at how the government could better help and protect families and children in Aboriginal communities.

Early Life and Army Service

Sue Gordon was born in 1943 on a large farm called Belele Station near Meekatharra, Western Australia. When she was four years old, she was taken from her mother and family. This happened under a past government policy that separated many Aboriginal children from their homes, creating what is now known as the Stolen Generations. She grew up at Sister Kate's children's home in Queens Park, Western Australia.

After finishing school, she joined the Australian army. From 1961 to 1964, she was a full-time soldier in the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC).

A Career Helping Others

After the army, Sue Gordon held several office jobs. In the 1970s, she began working in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. There, she worked closely with Aboriginal communities to help them with their needs.

In 1977, she won a special award that allowed her to travel to the United States. She studied how programs were run to help Native American communities find jobs.

Breaking New Ground

Sue Gordon became a trailblazer for Aboriginal people in government.

• In 1986, she was appointed the Commissioner for Aboriginal Planning. She was the first Aboriginal person ever to lead a government department in Western Australia.
• In 1988, she became a magistrate in the Perth Children's Court. This made her the state's first full-time Aboriginal magistrate.

In 1990, she was chosen as one of the first commissioners for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), an organisation created to represent Aboriginal people.

The Gordon Inquiry

In 2002, the leader of Western Australia, Premier Geoff Gallop, asked Sue Gordon to lead a major investigation. It became known as the Gordon Inquiry. Its goal was to find out how government agencies could do a better job of protecting children and supporting families in Aboriginal communities.

The final report was very detailed, with over 640 pages. It included 197 findings and suggestions for how the government could improve its services and keep families safe.

National Leadership

In 2004, Sue Gordon was appointed to lead the National Indigenous Council. This group was created to give advice on Aboriginal issues to the Australian Government after ATSIC was closed.

From 2007 to 2008, she also led a special group called the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Taskforce.

She has continued to work for the community. In 2010, she joined the board of Jawun, an organisation that supports Indigenous communities. In the same year, she became the president of the Federation of Western Australian Police and Community Youth Centres (WA PCYC). As of 2018, she was also the President of The Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation, which helps Indigenous students succeed in school.

Honours and Awards

Sue Gordon earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Australia. In 2003, the same university gave her an Honorary Doctorate to recognise her amazing work.

Some of her other awards include:

• The Aboriginal Development Commission Australia Day Council Award in 1986.
• The Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Club of Perth in 1994.
• The Centenary Medal in 2003 for her service to the community.

In 1993, she received the Order of Australia, one of the country's highest honours, for her work with Aboriginal people and in community affairs.

See also

• Select Committee on Reserves (Reserve 43131) Bill 2003