The Australian Government is proud to be contributing $250,000 to help establish a new Foundation named in honour of the highly respected Yankunytjatjara woman, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue, AC CBE DSG.
Today, on her 90th birthday, we thank Dr O’Donoghue for all she has done to improve the health and advance the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and commit to continuing her legacy with the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation.
The Foundation will develop educational materials about her extraordinary life to keep her story alive and start to hold annual events to continue to educate and lobby for the causes she has so passionately pursued.
With this seed funding, the Foundation will be well placed to attract further investment and will look to establish scholarships for First Nations people to follow in Dr O’Donoghue’s footsteps in nursing and the public sector.
For more information about the Foundation and to learn how to support its ongoing work, visit the Lowitja Institute website.
Quotes attributable to Minister Burney
“Lowitja O’Donoghue is one of those Australians who is universally admired.”
“She broke down so many barriers, faced up to racism, overcame adversity and demonstrated that First Nations peoples can achieve anything they put their mind to.”
“Dr O’Donoghue earned the respect of everyone around her by never letting the nay-sayers hold her back and by always remaining focussed on advancing the rights of her people.”
“I am so pleased to support the establishment of this Foundation that will continue her legacy and ensure her story is told and re-told to inspire people to fight as hard as she did to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”