Elders on Campus

Dr. Aunty Pat Miller AO

Arrernte Elder
Alice Springs Poche SA+NT

Alice Springs Elder on Campus Dr Pat Miller AO is a Traditional Owner and Native Title Holder of Alice Springs and accepted by the community as an Arrernte Elder. Dr Miller is well respected for her cultural knowledge and expertise and received a doctorate from Flinders University in 2013, in acknowledgement of her ability to provide culturally appropriate guidance during many years of employment and leadership within Central Australia. She has over a decade of experience with Remote Health Central Australia and was the CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service.

Dr. Uncle Richard ‘Balang/Japaljarri’ Fejo

Larrakia Elder
Darwin Poche SA+NT

Darwin Senior Elder on Campus Mr Richard ‘Balang/Japaljarri’ Fejo is a Larrakia man (his father’s country) and Wurramungu from Tennant Creek (his mother’s country). Mr Fejo has presented Larrakia Welcome to Country in Darwin since 1994 and is a locally recognised and accepted Elder in his community. He is serving in his third year as the Chairman of the Larrakia Nation in Darwin and recently joined the board for the NT Australia Day Council. Mr Fejo was previously employed by Northern Territory General Practice Education for eleven years. In this role he spent nine years as the Senior Cultural Educator and five years as the Co-Chair of the National Cultural Educator and Cultural Mentor Network.

Dr. Uncle Lewis Yarlupurka O’Brien

Kaurna Elder
Bedford Park
Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement

Bedford Park Senior Elder on campus Uncle Lewis has worked tirelessly with schools, universities, communities, and government agencies for more than 30 years to embed a Kaurna presence into Adelaide’s cultural landscape, and his research has contributed enormously to the endurance of the Kaurna language.

Uncle Lewis is known for his warm mentorship of Aboriginal children and families, combined with his rich political contributions and leadership across heritage, arts, sport, reconciliation and education.

At Flinders University, he has been involved in reviews of centres, as Elder on the Indigenous Health Professional Education Advisory Committee, and was Patron/Elder-in-Residence to the Indigenous Preparation for Medicine program.