June Oscar AO is a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. She is a strong advocate for Indigenous Australian languages, social justice, women’s issues, and has worked tirelessly to reduce Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
June completed her seven-year term as Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner in April 2024. As Commissioner she published the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Report in December 2020. In March 2024, June launched the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice, based at the Australian National University. The Institute, a global first, continues the vital work of Wiyi Yani U Thangani and advance and respond to the rights and aspirations of First Nations women and girls, inclusive of cis and trans women and gender diverse mob.
June has held a raft of influential positions including Deputy Director of the Kimberley Land Council, chair of the Kimberley Language Resource Centre and the Kimberley Interpreting Service and Chief Investigator with WA’s Lililwan Project addressing FASD. She led a successful community driven campaign for alcohol restrictions in Fitzroy Crossing and is an international advocate on the impacts of intergenerational trauma and the need to restore societal wellbeing through the revitalisation of cultural practices, languages and connection to land and water.
In 2013 June was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the Indigenous community of Western Australia, particularly through health and social welfare programs. In 2015, June received the Menzies School of Health Research Medallion for her work with FASD. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Desmond Tutu Global Reconciliation Award, she was named NAIDOC person of the year in 2018, and in 2019 she was bestowed the honorary role of a Distinguished Fellow of ANZSOG.
Our Team
Kimberley Hunter
She/her
Co-lead for Design & Engagement
Nyikina
Jane Pedersen
She/her
Co-lead for Systems Change
Non-Indigenous
Sophie Spry
She/her
Co-lead for Partnerships & Design
Non-Indigenous
Banok Rind
She/her
Co-lead for Impact & Engagement
Badimaya Yamatji
Nyikina
Niamh Kealy
She/her
Research & Policy Coordinator
Non-Indigenous
Terri Reid
She/her
Project Coordinator for Regional & International Engagement
Wuthathi, Meriam and Gamilaroi
Chloe Wegener
She/her
Project Coordinator for Knowledge Translation & Design
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