“On the Couch” with Chris Sarra and Angela Leitch
On 2 June 2020, IPAA Queensland was delighted to host Dr Chris Sarra, Director-General of Queensland’s Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Angela Leitch, Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy) at Queensland University of Technology, to join us ‘on the couch’.
Watch as 98.9FM radio host Lizzie Orley spoke with Chris and Angela about their career journeys dedicated to influencing policy reform for First Nations Peoples in education and beyond, and how each of us can continue to re-frame Indigenous and non-Indigenous relationships.
READ our wrap up of the event on the IPAA blog below. IPAA members can also view the full recording of the event on their member portal.
About Dr Chris Sarra:
Chris is an internationally recognised Indigenous education specialist. He grew up in Bundaberg, the youngest of 10 children, and in 1998 became the first Aboriginal principal of Cherbourg State School in southeast Queensland.
Through a ‘strong and smart’ philosophy which encourages students to have a positive sense of cultural identity and embrace positive community leadership, Chris significantly improved students’ educational and life outcomes. He later founded the Stronger Smarter Institute to deliver the ‘strong and smart’ approach to Indigenous students Australia-wide.
Chris was named Queenslander of the Year in 2004, Queensland’s Australian of the Year in 2010, and NAIDOC Person of the Year in 2016. In 2017, he received the Anthony Mundine Award for Courage at the National Indigenous Human Rights Awards.
About Angela Leitch:
As QUT’s first Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy), Angela leads the development of QUT’s strategic direction regarding Indigenous matters with responsibility for positioning the university nationally and internationally as an innovative leader in Indigenous education, research, employment and engagement. She is committed to encouraging, supporting and making the shifts needed to ensure that QUT is a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can see themselves.
Angela’s career also includes senior roles in the areas of Indigenous policy with the Queensland Department of Education, driving reforms to Indigenous early childhood education, school education and tertiary education in Queensland.
She holds a Master’s degree in Education and Professional Studies Research (Griffith University) and also a Graduate Certificate in Employment Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
About IPAA Queensland
IPAA Queensland advances the professionalism, capability and integrity of public administration and public purpose work and promotes pride in service.
If you’re a public servant or engaged in public purpose work, we encourage you to get to know and connect with IPAA Queensland. Find out more about us by reading more on our site or through joining as a member here.
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