NAIDOC SA Ambassadors
Dr Alitja Rigney
Aboriginal Elder Dr Alitja Rigney is a 30-year veteran of education in South Australia. Starting out as a teachers' aide in 1967, Alitja retired as principal of Kaurna Plains School in 1997 with an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia and a string of awards and achievements to her name.
Alitja grew up in a mission on the Yorke Peninsula during the 1940s. Having completed high school, Alitja set about thinking what she might do for a career. Surprisingly, teaching hadn't even occurred to her. "I wanted to be a doctor, but my school counsellor didn't think an Aboriginal female would be able to achieve in that area at the time. I had role models who were nurses, though - people like Lowitja O'Donoghue and Audrey Kinnear. So I became a nurse." After nursing for a while, Alitja returned to her community and had her first child. This is when she began working as a teachers' aide in mission schools around the area. Realising she had what it took to be a teacher, Alitja obtained a Diploma of Education from the University of South Australia and was quickly snapped up by a mainstream primary school.
In 1985 Alitja became the first Aboriginal person to join the professional ranks of the South Australian Department of Education. The following year she became the first female Aboriginal principal in Australia when she was appointed head of Kaurna Plains School.
Since then, Alitja has been teaching, mentoring and, most importantly, inspiring young minds on the traditional lands of her people, and beyond
Alitja grew up in a mission on the Yorke Peninsula during the 1940s. Having completed high school, Alitja set about thinking what she might do for a career. Surprisingly, teaching hadn't even occurred to her. "I wanted to be a doctor, but my school counsellor didn't think an Aboriginal female would be able to achieve in that area at the time. I had role models who were nurses, though - people like Lowitja O'Donoghue and Audrey Kinnear. So I became a nurse." After nursing for a while, Alitja returned to her community and had her first child. This is when she began working as a teachers' aide in mission schools around the area. Realising she had what it took to be a teacher, Alitja obtained a Diploma of Education from the University of South Australia and was quickly snapped up by a mainstream primary school.
In 1985 Alitja became the first Aboriginal person to join the professional ranks of the South Australian Department of Education. The following year she became the first female Aboriginal principal in Australia when she was appointed head of Kaurna Plains School.
Since then, Alitja has been teaching, mentoring and, most importantly, inspiring young minds on the traditional lands of her people, and beyond
Professor Roger Thomas
Roger Thomas is an Aboriginal man whose parents come from Pt Augusta and Ceduna and is from the Wirungu / Kookatha clans of South Australia.
Roger has over 23 years expreience of in the SA Public Service and since leaving there he has continued to work in the Aboriginal Higher Education Sector, including being the Managing Director of Pundalmurra TAFE College in Western Australia. Roger is currently the Professor of Indigenous Engagement and Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of Adelaide and also the Director of the Centre for Australian Indigenous Research and Studies - Wilto Yerlo / CASM.
Roger is currently Chairperson of the Federal Governments Ministerial Advisory Council on Indigenous Higher Education and also a member of the World Indigneous Higher Education Committee whose agendas deal with Indigenous higher education on a global basis. Roger also holds the position of Dean - Wilto Yerlo, University of Adelaide.
Roger has over 23 years expreience of in the SA Public Service and since leaving there he has continued to work in the Aboriginal Higher Education Sector, including being the Managing Director of Pundalmurra TAFE College in Western Australia. Roger is currently the Professor of Indigenous Engagement and Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of Adelaide and also the Director of the Centre for Australian Indigenous Research and Studies - Wilto Yerlo / CASM.
Roger is currently Chairperson of the Federal Governments Ministerial Advisory Council on Indigenous Higher Education and also a member of the World Indigneous Higher Education Committee whose agendas deal with Indigenous higher education on a global basis. Roger also holds the position of Dean - Wilto Yerlo, University of Adelaide.
