Greetings members from the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples.As we approach the end of the year, I’ve been reflecting on what has been an emotionally full and incredibly busy quarter for our CATSINaM community. Like many of you, I’ve felt the highs and lows—the joy of coming together in solidarity and celebration, and the deep sadness of losing more of our beloved Elders who have shaped our professions.
For me, this season has been marked by the passing of our dear Aunty Emily Marshall, whose wisdom and joy touched so many across our nursing and midwifery family. It was an honour to speak at her funeral and to stand with her family and community as we paid our final respects for her life and contributions. From the stories shared at her funeral, I learnt that she likened herself to the Statue of Liberty, but of the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Services (TAIHS), referencing her decades of dedication to her community. Aunty Emily was so loved and respected.
Just recently the CATSINaM team held a memorial service to honour our Founding Director, Aunty Dr Sally Goold. With the blessings of Aunty Sally’s family, a gathering of friends, colleagues and community members in Redfern on Gadigal lands, shared stories and songs to honour her phenomenal legacy. Aunty Sally was revered and inspired so many.
Amid our grief and respectful memorials, our advocacy and representation have continued with strength. Significant amongst our advocacy support was the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association Racism Roundtable and the launch of their
Standing Together Against Racism Report. While the stories included in this report will not be new to many CATSINaM members (trigger warning), the report provides important evidence about the impact of racism on negatively racialised people*, and it quantifies the impact on our wellbeing and on the quality and safety of nursing and midwifery care.
I was also privileged to represent CATSINaM at the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia (FECCA) Conference, panelling alongside non-white non-Indigenous health and community leaders dedicated to equity, truth telling and justice across diverse communities.
Meanwhile, our team was recognised for our deadly work for our communities at the 7NEWS QLD Community Achievement Awards. We didn’t take out our category this year—but in true CATSINaM fashion, we still walked away winners, landing two out of the three door prizes. Sometimes the universe gives you a quiet wink like that.
I also visited Perth, where I caught up with former CATSINaM CEO Mel Robinson, and nursing and midwifery great, Professor Rhonda Marriott. I also caught up with another former CATSINaM CEO, Professor Janine Mohamed, at a Disability community consultation, where I also ran into family, my Aunty Isabelle Adams.
Internationally, I attended the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia & New Zealand) (CDNM) Symposium in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. CATSINaM hosted an unofficial pre-Symposium event for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori delegates, so that we could get to know each other and share the work that we are currently doing in improving health curricula about our people, the research we are leading or supporting and the work we are doing to support our next generations. This was a powerful start to a successful Symposium.
Back home, we’ve continued our push to secure long-term funding for CATSINaM beyond June 2026, which is the case for our sister organisations AIDA, IAHA and NAATSIHWP. Our national nursing and midwifery peak body colleagues (ANMF, ACN, ACM, CDNM, ACMHN, APNA and CRANAPlus) lent their support to CATSINaM by signing a joint letter to Federal Health Minister Mark Butler MP, and Assistant Minister of Health and Indigenous Health Rebecca White MP. Recently, CATSINaM President Vanessa Browne, CATSINaM Chief Midwifery Officer Professor Cath Chamberlain, and I met with politicians from across the political spectrum (with exception to the extreme right) to reiterate urgency of sustainable support for the work we deliver nationally. Our meetings with politicians helped clarified that CATSINaM is well known and respected, with many offering support. We are yet to receive a confirmation about our funding, but we are optimistic and remain determined to increase the pressure.
As the year winds down, I want to acknowledge each of you. Your commitment, resilience and generosity continue to drive CATSINaM towards its purpose, to lead the nursing and midwifery workforces to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
I hope you all find time over the coming weeks to rest, reconnect, and rejuvenate.
Au esoau, many thanks.Ali
* Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman used the term ‘negatively racialized people’ when referring to non-white non-Indigenous peoples of Australia, and Indigenous peoples, highlighting the common experiences we endure of racism in Australia.