Jenelle Coyne is a Noongar woman from Albany, actively engaged in her community. Utilising her leadership skills, advocating for, and connecting with community members in need of support, on a volunteer basis.
Her experience in the Social and Emotional Wellbeing sector prepares her to strive for improved outcomes for her people. She is enthusiastic about contributing to this committee.
Kim Scott is an award-winning novelist, having twice won the Miles Franklin Award (for Benang and That Deadman Dance) along with many other Australian literary prizes. Proud to be one among those who call themselves Wirlomin Noongar, Kim is also a descendant of Tindale’s Wudjari and Koreng peoples. He is convenor of Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories (www.wirlomin.com.au) which is responsible for several bilingual (Noongar and English) picture books and many regional performances of story and song. Kim is a member of the WA Writers Hall of Fame, and in 2022 was declared a WA State Cultural Treasure. Kim has worked extensively in Indigenous education and the arts and is currently Curtin University Distinguished Professor in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry.
Ms Valerie Swift is a proud Menang (Great Southern) Gnundju (Goldfields) woman from Western Australia, a member of the Gray-Knapp family with cultural and family connections across WA. She is a qualified Aboriginal Health Worker and has worked in the area of Aboriginal health, education and welfare for more than 45 years. Ms Swift has also studied Aboriginal Community Management and Development at Curtin University. She is currently employed as the Director of the Aboriginal Ear and Hearing Health Program where she works closely with a team consisting of Aboriginal health staff, nurses, Audiologists, ENT’s, Allied health clinicians and research assistants. This study has reported the first prevalence estimates for OM in Aboriginal children under 6 months of age living in urban areas, which has been a catalyst for State and Federal-level health service policy changes to identify and provide effective interventions earlier for Aboriginal infants suffering from OM to prevent avoidable deafness. The team’s work is guided by a 12-member Aboriginal Community Advisory Group). This solid partnership has resulted in a translational research program that is of high impact locally and great significance nationally.
Ms Swift contributes nationally as a member of the NHMRC Centre for Excellence in Ear and Hearing Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children (CRE_ICHEAR), as a Working Group member of the WA Child Ear Health Strategy and globally as a member of the World Hearing Organisation, World Hearing Forum. Ms Swift is a valued, long-time member of Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation, the Yarramoup Aboriginal Corporation and the Babbingur Mia South Coast Aboriginal Health Service, Aboriginal Advisory Group. Valerie is also a member of the National Advisory Group for reporting on the Ear and Hearing Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Stuart Roberts is a Noongar man from the Great Southern region who is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his people. Stuart brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role as Advisory Committee Member, and has a heart for community service and empowering Noongar people.