Engaging communities and working in partnership with Indigenous Australians is a top priority for CQUniversity's newly appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) Professor Bronwyn Fredericks.

Professor Fredericks met with a number of Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from the North Brisbane region last week at Queensland University of Technology's Oodgeroo Unit.. 

The meeting was held to finalise plans for the upcoming North Brisbane Indigenous Women's Wellness Summit being held on the 22 June, in which CQUniversity is a provider of professional expertise.

"What excites me about this kind of work is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are out there organising the Summits and other events and running projects for themselves" Professor Fredericks said.

CQUniversity Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) Professor Bronwyn Fredericks with some of the young woman and Elders in Brisbane

"It's this kind of health activism led by Elders that also encourages leadership development in the lives of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls."

The Indigenous Women's Wellness Summit will focus on wellness rather than on sickness and disease, with the previous Summit in March attended by over 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

That number expected to increase to 150 for the upcoming Summit. 

"The focus on wellness ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are working towards improved health outcomes, even if they have diabetes, high blood pressure or some other health condition" said Melissa Walker, a Registerd Nurse with qualifications in Mental Health and Practice Nursing. 

"As a Nurse and as an Aboriginal woman living in this community, I am proud of what we are achieving together".

Professor Fredericks has been working on projects with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in North Brisbane for the past 18 months, and will begin similar work with women in the Central Queensland region soon.