Associate Professor Edward Wilkes

Ted holds a B. Arts in Social Science. He was awarded the Curtin University School of Social Sciences and Asian Languages Alumni Medal in 1997, and subsequently gained the status of Curtin Fellow in 1999. In 2000, at the invitation of the Manager of Aboriginal Health and the West Australian Commissioner of Health, he also completed the Australian and New Zealand Health Leaders Program which included visits to New Zealand, most states of Australia and the ACT to study and learn about Health Systems. It is worth noting that he was the first Indigenous Australian from outside of Government to undertake and complete the program.

Ted is a Nyungar Man from the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River). Ted has been involved in Aboriginal affairs all of his working life, having commenced working in the West Australian Museum as an Aboriginal Site Recorder in 1974. Following this, Ted commenced full time undergraduate studies at Curtin University.

Whilst studying, Ted took on a position as the Co-ordinator of the Aboriginal Studies unit. This unit was developed into a Centre for Aboriginal Studies, and Ted was not only instrumental in the development of this Centre, but was also the inaugural Acting Head (1985).

On completion of his degree, Ted took up employment as the Director of the Perth Aboriginal Medical Service, now known as the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service. He occupied the position of Director for 16 years and left this employment to take up his present position in 2002. Currently, he holds the position of Professorial Fellow in Aboriginal Health with the Centre for Developmental Health at Curtin University, in conjunction with the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. This year Ted will commence studies towards a Masters degree. His research topic will be "A study on the rites of passage of Noongar male youth."

As a prominent Aboriginal leader, Ted has endeavoured to facilitate positive health and social outcomes, not only for the Aboriginal community, but also for the broader community. Better quality of life for Aboriginal people in Australia brings with it a better quality of life for all. Ted is working toward this outcome in his current position and today is focused on the social determinants of the health of Aboriginal people.