Tracey O’Brien: During National Reconciliation Week and beyond it’s up to all of us to celebrate the culture and achievements of Aboriginal people

Tracey O’Brien shared on LinkedIn:

“This week is National Reconciliation Week, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the rich and beautiful history of Aboriginal people and reflect on our unique cultures, experiences and connections as people.

For our Aboriginal colleagues, friends and community members, last year’s Voice Referendum was a time of great loss and disillusionment, which is why this week is a chance to change the tide, focus on truth-telling and strengthening our commitment to reconciliation.

As a healthcare professional, it is my duty to take action and do what is needed to break down barriers to health care, consider the unique and varied needs of our community, and work in collaboration with the health system to one day achieve equitable cancer outcomes for all.

During National Reconciliation Week and beyond, regardless of who we are or where we come from, it’s up to all of us to be part of the change that is needed and celebrate the culture and achievements of Aboriginal people, multicultural communities and everyone who calls Australia home.

Take a moment to hear from staff from across the Cancer Institute NSW as they reflect on their personal commitments to help achieve reconciliation in Australia.”

Video attached to the post.
Source: Tracey O’Brien/LinkedIn

Dr. Tracey O’Brien is the NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Australia. Before her current role, Tracey was Director of the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, and Director of the Transplant & Cellular Therapy Program.

Tracey has held numerous high-profile national and international leadership positions, including Advisory Chair, Cancer Australia; V/Chair (Africa, Asia and Australasia) International Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant Research and V/President of the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Oncology Group. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Tracey was profiled in 2023 as one of the world’s foremost women in paediatric cancer by the International Society of Paediatric Oncology.

In 2019 Tracey was named in the Australian Financial Review’s prestigious Top 10 Women of Influence, winning the Innovation category. In addition to her medical expertise, Tracey has a Master of Law (Health) and executive MBA and serves as a conjoint Professor in Clinical Medicine (UNSW) and Honorary Professor in Science and Engineering (Macquarie University). Dr. O’Brien remains committed to mentoring the next generation of clinician leaders and maintains an active clinical practice in cancer survivorship at Sydney Children’s Hospital.