Professor Tom Calma AO – considered one of Australia’s most respected human rights and social justice campaigners – has been named the nation’s Senior Australian of the Year in the Australia Day Honours List.
The Kungarakan Elder has worked for more than 45 years at local, community, state and international levels championing the rights, responsibilities and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
His call for Australia to address the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples was the catalyst for the Close the Gap Campaign. He was instrumental in establishing the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples; has led the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program; co-chaired Reconciliation Australia for over a decade; and has co-led the co-design of a Voice to Parliament initiative.
CEO of the Australians Council on the Ageing Australia,Patricia Sparrow said Professor Calma was one of the most respected human rights and social justice campaigners in the country, “…whose commitment to improving the lives of others has only got more impressive with age.”
“It’s wonderful to have someone with his experience and passion in aged care in that important position.”
Accepting his award at the National Arboretum in Canberra, Professor Calma said, “We do not do what we do for accolades, but often because we see a need that is not being met and we know that with a little coordination and a lot of effort we can make a difference, and that our collective efforts have impact.”
Currently Chancellor of the University of Canberra, Tom is an active volunteer, consultant and the first Indigenous Australian inducted as a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
Tom believes education is the key to advancing Indigenous peoples and says his father remains his inspiration behind his life’s work.
