John Paterson (Aboriginal health leader)
John Paterson (born 12 August 1958 in Darwin) is an Aboriginal leader and advocate. His grandmother's people are the Ngalakan, whose traditional country is near Ngukurr on the Roper River in southeast Arnhem land.
Professional appointments
- former Top End Hospital Network Governing Council Member, 2012-13
- CEO, Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service[1]
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) State Manager, Victoria
- ATSIC State Manager, South Australia
- ATSIC Regional Manager, Broome, Western Australia
- Department of Indigenous Affairs, Regional Manager, Murchison/Gascoyne, Western Australia
- Senior Advisor, Northern Territory Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
- (Acting) Director of NAALAS (North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service)[2]
- ATSIC Commissioner, Northern Territory (North Zone)
- Council Liaison Officer, Northern Land Council
Current appointment
Since June 2006, John Paterson has been the Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT). He is currently Chairperson for NACCHO eHEG (eHealth Expert Group) that advises government on national eHealth issues pertaining to the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector. John is also a member of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum. Given his passion and love for Australian Rules Football, he was elected President of the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club two years ago.
Education and advocacy
John has represented ATSIC at the United Nations Working Group of Indigenous Populations in Geneva, and at Indigenous economic conferences in Canada.
In 1992 he graduated from Edith Cowan University with a Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) and has completed leadership courses with the Australian Rural Leadership Program.
Personal interests
John was awarded the 2013 Top End NAIDOC 'Lifetime Achievement' award.
John played 213 games of AFL for the Darwin Football Club (the mighty ‘Buffaloes’) and captained their NTFL Premiership team in 1980. He was twice selected for the NT News "Team of the Year" and is a Life Member of the NTFL and the Darwin Football Club.
Nowadays, John tends to spend time with his wife and family, including six children and fourteen grandchildren, or to do some gardening, gentle walking or playing golf.
John is also frequently discussing Aboriginal affairs with his friends and contacts, and spending time encouraging young people to excel in their studies and their work. He believes the mentoring and coaching of young people is central to the development of Aboriginal people and their communities.
References
- ↑ Wurli Wurlinjang website
- ↑ In 2005, NAALAS was amalgamated with other legal services into the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.