Haylene Grogan

Ask Haylene Grogan why she wanted to work with the Government, she will likely pull two small booklets from her bag. These, she will explain, are the exemption certificates given to her father and Aunty that forbade them from moving around because of their status as First Peoples. Haylene carries them around to remind her what she’s fighting for.

“I've joined government to influence the very rules that limited our people's lives, to actually have a say, and have government understand that what they do does make a big difference in people's lives,” she said.

“My father’s life was restricted by these rules and now, where I am, I can actually make a difference.”

And that’s exactly what she’s been doing as Queensland’s first Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer and Deputy Director-General, campaigning and making impact in legislation to benefit First Peoples.

“We now have legislation in health in Queensland, requiring co-design with our people, that’s incredible,” she explained. “It’s an incredible opportunity and I had the privilege of working with that legislation. That was a big one for us.”

Haylene is motivated as a proud Yalanji and Tagalaka woman with Italian heritage. She is a keen advocate for First Nations rights and equality, and for eradicating cultural bias in the health care system and beyond. She leads by working with diverse communities, and is an important voice for awareness of First Nations culture and wellbeing in a nation with a divided political and social history regarding its treatment of First Nations people.

In her current role, Haylene is excitedly partnering with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health sector.

“I am working to have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented, from gardeners to surgeons,” Haylene said.

“That is progressing with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equity and cultural capability framework.”

Welcomed into her current position by the state’s top political figures, as well as with a traditional smoking ceremony, Haylene is leading First Nations health equity reform in Queensland and spearheading real change in closing the enduring and complex health gap. This significant role follows an extensive and influential career in the public sector in both health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs.

On her rise to senior executive public service, she held the position of Director of Aboriginal Affairs NSW for more than four years and has also held executive positions in the Queensland, New South Wales and Commonwealth governments.

"She is an accomplished leader and a passionate advocate with a wealth of experience in the health sector," said Deputy Premier Jackie Trad in 2019.

Over the decades, she was worked in service delivery, policy and program development and implementation. Haylene has experience in economic prosperity, languages, cultural heritage, land and planning reforms, and is particularly proud to have had the privilege of guiding NSW to becoming the first jurisdiction in Australia to enact Aboriginal languages legislation, with the passing of the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017 into NSW Parliament.

“I was very privileged to work with First Nations people in New South Wales and hear their voices about what they wanted in terms of getting Aboriginal languages in the legislation. Now they have an Aboriginal Languages Trust established to pursue the growth, nurturing and rediscovery of languages and it's led by Aboriginal people,” she said.

“My proudest moment was when Aboriginal language speakers were permitted to speak on the floor of Parliament in ‘language’ with the Black Rod in the middle. It was just so beautiful. That is ultimate policy, right there.”

Haylene says she decided to study a Masters of Public Administration with Griffith to help her get to the next level in her career.

“I always believe you have to re-educate and the MPA was a really important qualification for me. Griffith provided access to the flexibility I was looking for in what I could study, as well as having the opportunity to learn from some of the biggest policy experts in the country.

“I chose Griffith because it was very modern, innovative and advanced in its in its thinking right across the board. I probably wouldn’t have my current job without that piece of paper to back me up.”

Haylene believes in change from a grassroots level, and self-determination as an essential means to support historically underprivileged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“We have come a long way,” she said.

“But there is still a long way to go. We have to start in schools and communities to ensure that there is a structured and dedicated way to have all voices heard.”