Talisha King
Tirkapena Indigenous Award recipient 2024
Graduate Certificate in Public Health 2019
Talisha King is a Gurindji, Mudburra and Waanyi woman and a public health advocate working to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples through health and reconciliation.
Growing up in remote and rural communities like Katherine, Bulman and Nhulunbuy as well as Adelaide, Talisha saw disparities in health services and health outcomes firsthand. 鈥淭hat exposure really highlighted to me the different quality of life when you live in those remote spaces, especially with access to health care. I recall as a child growing up and needing a doctor living in a remote community, and realising how unfair it was that I couldn't get that access, and that my community also didn't have access to that health care,鈥 Talisha says.
With an established background in medical imaging and experience with policy development, Talisha studied a Graduate Certificate in Public Health (2019), which equipped her with additional information to frame her lived experience as she endeavours to create change for communities in South Australia. 鈥淎 really strong memory that I have from university is learning about the social determinants of health and having a framework around my life experience that I can reference鈥 it really gave me direction on how I wanted to pursue my career.鈥
鈥淭o me, success means working within this traditionally colonial space while establishing a strong, effective model for Aboriginal engagement.鈥
Talisha continues to strive to reduce barriers and improve systems for individuals and communities. Currently based in Adelaide, she applies her learnings to the city鈥檚 Reconciliation Action Plan. 鈥溾淭o me, success means working within this traditionally colonial space while establishing a strong, effective model for Aboriginal engagement鈥 seeing people coming to the table, feeling genuinely included,鈥 she says.
Talisha gathers her inspiration from the strong elders and leaders who, like her, are working tirelessly in the pursuit of more equitable outcomes across areas like healthcare, justice and custodianship of Country. 鈥淭here's a lot of Aboriginal people that are leading the way and making real change鈥 I'm inspired by the work that I do with traditional owners.鈥
Talisha says that winning this award is an honour that recognises the work she has done throughout her career but is also a testament to the ongoing effort of those who work beside her.