2019 Indigenous Alumni Achiever

Congratulations to Dr Mark Wenitong on his recent acknowledgement as a Newcastle University Alumni with his achievements and hard work in healthcare.

As one of the first Indigenous medicine graduates in Australia in 1994, Dr Mark Wenitong completed his medical studies as a mature-age student and proceeded to join World Vision and work in Central Australia where he encountered some of the harshest health challenges.

Passionate about improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Mark then worked in health policy in Canberra before returning home to Cairns working in clinical roles for the Queensland Indigenous Health Service including his current position as a Public Health Medical Advisor at Apunipima.

His main focus is working in preventative health and curbing the growing methamphetamine problem in Far North Queensland. Mark is form the Kabi Kabi tribal group of South Queensland.

This award recognises his outstanding contribution with demonstrated engagement and impact working with Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.

Dr Mark Wenitong was also joined by Dr James Charles (Associate Professor, Deakin University) and Luke Pearson (Director of IndigenousX) in the Indigenous category.