Last week, 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives from 16 Queensland Health hospital and health services gathered at Queensland University of Technology’s Kelvin Grove campus for the inaugural residential of the Tjurtu First Nations Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Program.
In association with Professor Roianne West, Wuchopperen Health Service Special Projects Manager Dallas McKeown served as workshop facilitator.
This innovative leadership development program, co-designed with First Nations nurses and midwives, aims to build leadership skills grounded in cultural knowledge and promote health equity in Indigenous communities.
The Tjurtu Program, led by Professor Roianne West, a Kalkadunga and Djkunde descendant and Queensland’s first Aboriginal Professor of Nursing, is uniquely embedded within a strong cultural framework.
It emphasises First Nations cultural leadership, mentorship, and nation-building while fostering self-determining and strategic leadership practices.
The name “Tjurtu,” meaning “coolamon” in the Kalkadunga language, reflects the leadership skills and tools participants carry forward—much like the coolamon’s traditional role in carrying essential resources.
Funded by Queensland Health, the program provides participants with clinical leadership training, community engagement projects, and mentorship from experienced First Nations healthcare leaders.
Enrolled as students at QUT, participants earn academic credit equivalent to one unit in a graduate certificate, with pathways to further postgraduate nursing leadership studies. The program aligns closely with Queensland Health’s strategic goals by nurturing culturally responsive care and addressing health disparities through First Nations-led models.
The Tjurtu Leadership Program is about empowering our nurses and midwives to lead with cultural strength and knowledge. It’s a step toward self-determination and systemic change, ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are central in transforming healthcare for our communities.
It is hoped that the program will expand in the future to include nurses and midwives working in Community Controlled Health Services.
With a robust evaluation process in place, the initial cohorts will provide valuable insights into the program’s successes and challenges, informing ongoing development. The Tjurtu Program represents a critical investment in Indigenous health leadership, promising to advance both professional growth and cultural safety in Queensland’s healthcare system.
About First Nations Nursing and Midwifery Consulting (FNNMC).
First Nations Nursing and Midwifery Consulting is committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals through culturally grounded leadership programs and consulting services. Led by respected Indigenous health leaders, FNNMC fosters workforce development and culturally safe healthcare delivery across Australia.
