Ellie White awarded the ACDHS Allied Health First Nations Leadership and Engagement Award
Congratulations to Ellie White for receiving the Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences (ACDHS) Allied Health First Nations Leadership and Engagement Award. Ellie is a proud Kija Bardi woman and physiotherapist and has been recognised for her exceptional leadership and engagement with First Nations communities, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing health outcomes through culturally informed practice and collaboration.
As a clinician, Ellie implements strategies to make healthcare more accessible to First Nations peoples, such as helping to establish a First Nations Health Portfolio to increase awareness of First Nations cultures in the Physiotherapy Department at St Vincents Hospital Melbourne and provide better clinical care to First Nations patients. As a project officer, Ellie worked on the St Vincent’s third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) iteration. The project involved extensive consultation with over 30 internal and external First Nations partners, resulting in over 80 deliverable commitments, all based on the Social Determinents Model of health. Ellie has also worked as an educator at the University of Melbourne since 2022 and is both a lecturer and lead for the First Nations health teaching in the Doctor of Physiotherapy program.
Ellie’s work at the University of Melbourne highlights the importance of bridging academic knowledge with meaningful community partnerships. Her work demonstrates commitment to leading, co-designing and using her roles to elevate First Nations peoples and provide culturally safe care. Guided by respect, reciprocity and reconciliation, her initiatives have advanced culturally and clinically safe care and contributed to making healthcare more equitable. She remains committed to continuing this work to connect and help with, and for, her community. Through encouraging recruitment and collaboration, Ellie strives to better represent community diversity and improve teaching and learning experiences.
