Tom Calma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Calma
AO FAA FAHA FASSA
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Calma in 2008
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| 6th Chancellor of the University of Canberra | |
| In office 1 January 2014 – 31 December 2023 |
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| Preceded by | John Mackay |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Paul |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1953 (age 71–72) Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia |
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Thomas Edwin Calma (born 1953) is an Aboriginal Australian leader. He is known for his work in human rights and social justice. In 2023, he was named Senior Australian of the Year.
From 2014 to 2023, Tom Calma was the sixth Chancellor of the University of Canberra. He was the second Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person to hold this important role at an Australian university.
Tom Calma has worked on Indigenous issues at many levels. This includes local communities, states, and even internationally. He has focused on areas like health, education, and justice. His 2005 Social Justice Report helped start the Close the Gap campaign. This campaign aims to improve health for Indigenous Australians.
He also served as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. He held this role from 2004 to 2010. He was also the Race Discrimination Commissioner from 2004 to 2009. These roles were at the Australian Human Rights Commission.
In 2012, he received the Order of Australia award. This was for his work as a strong supporter of human rights and social justice. In 2013, he was named Australian of the Year for the ACT.
In 2019, Tom Calma became a co-chair of a group called the "Indigenous voice to government". This group advises the government on Indigenous matters.
Contents
Who is Tom Calma?
Tom Calma was born in 1953 in Darwin, Australia.
He is an elder of the Kungarakan people. He is also a member of the Iwaidja people. Their traditional lands are in the Northern Territory.
What Has Tom Calma Achieved?
Tom Calma has had a long and important career. He has worked in many different areas.
Early Career and International Work
From 1995 to 2002, Tom Calma worked as a diplomat. He represented Australia's education interests in India and Vietnam. In 2003, he advised the Minister for Indigenous Affairs.
Leading Social Justice Efforts
Tom Calma has been a co-chair of Reconciliation Australia since before 2005. This group works to build better relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
He was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. He held this role from 2004 to 2010. During this time, he wrote the Social Justice Report 2005. This report asked the Australian government to make a plan. The goal was to achieve equal health and life expectancy for Indigenous people.
This report led to the Close the Gap campaign. This campaign brings together many groups. They all work to improve Indigenous health. Tom Calma started the Close the Gap Steering Committee in 2006. He was its first chairperson.
In 2008, Tom Calma gave the official response. This was to the government's apology to the Stolen Generations. Since 2009, he has also worked with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation.
Work in Health and Justice
Since 2010, Tom Calma has been the National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking. This role helps reduce smoking rates in Indigenous communities.
He also helped create the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples. He worked on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy. He also promoted "justice reinvestment" in Australia. This idea focuses on putting money into communities. The aim is to prevent crime, instead of just punishing it.
Leadership in Education
Tom Calma joined the University of Canberra Council in 2008. In 2012, he became the Deputy Chancellor. On January 1, 2014, he became the Chancellor of the University of Canberra. He was the first Indigenous man to hold this position at an Australian university.
He also became a Professor at the University of Sydney's Medical School in 2015. There, he leads the Poche Indigenous Health Network.
Other Important Roles
Tom Calma has been a White Ribbon Ambassador since 2005. This role supports efforts to end violence against women. He is also a patron for Wakakirri and the Media Centre for Education Research Australia.
In 2019, he was named a co-chair for the "Indigenous voice to government". This group includes 20 leaders and experts. They advise the government on issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
Awards and Recognition
Tom Calma has received many awards for his work.
Major National Awards
In 2012, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for his great service to the Indigenous community. It recognized his work for human rights and social justice. In 2013, he was named the ACT Australian of the Year. This honored his dedication to improving the lives of Indigenous Australians. In January 2023, he was named Senior Australian of the Year.
Honorary Doctorates
He has received several honorary doctorates from universities.
- In 2010, Charles Darwin University gave him an honorary Doctorate of Letters.
- In 2011, Curtin University awarded him an honorary doctorate of science.
- In 2014, Flinders University gave him an honorary doctorate.
These awards recognized his work in education, health, and Indigenous affairs.
Other Recognitions
In 2014, he received the Indigenous Allied Health Australia Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also named their first Patron in 2017.
The Bulletin magazine named him the Most Influential Indigenous Person in Australia in 2007. GQ magazine named him their 2008 Man of Inspiration. In 2010, Australian Doctor Magazine listed him as one of the 50 Most Influential People in medicine.
In 2015, he received an Alumni Award from the University of South Australia. He also received the Sidney Sax Public Health Medal. This was for his important work in public health.
In 2016, he received the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Flag Award. In 2017, he was appointed an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland.
In May 2017, Australia Post honored him with a special stamp. This was part of a series on "Indigenous leaders." In 2018, he was added to the ACT Honour Walk. In 2022, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He was also elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
In 2024, he was chosen to give the Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration. This is a special speech about lessons from the past for the future.
Images for kids
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Calma in 2008
