Wakai Waian Healing has announced a new leadership model placing cultural governance, clinical governance and operational leadership side by side as the organisation expands its social and emotional wellbeing work across Queensland.
The 100 per cent Indigenous-owned and governed organisation has created three senior leadership roles to strengthen cultural safety, clinical practice and organisational systems.
Masig man and chief executive officer, Ed Mosby, said the changes were about embedding Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing into the organisation's structures, not treating culture as an addition to service delivery.
"Across Australia, there is growing recognition that better outcomes for our people require more than simply delivering services differently," Mr Mosby said.
"They require organisations to think differently about leadership, governance and accountability.
"We believe cultural governance, clinical governance and operational leadership all have a critical role to play, and they need to work together if we are serious about creating lasting change."
Ngarigo psychologist Joe Sproats has been appointed cultural lead.
Mr Sproats is a Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association board director and an approved Psychology Board of Australia supervisor, with decades of experience in Indigenous mental health, counselling, organisational leadership and workforce development.
He has worked across community services, disability support, Indigenous counselling and leadership roles in Queensland, and is the founder of Dreamtime Learning and Dreamtime Counselling and Coaching Service.
In the new role, Mr Sproats will lead an organisation-wide professional development framework focused on cultural safety, cultural responsiveness and cultural humility.
The role will also support staff across disciplines and regions and help ensure cultural governance remains part of organisational decision-making.
Barada and Kabalbara woman Sharni Upton has been appointed clinic lead, with responsibility for clinic-based programs, service delivery and clinical governance across Wakai Waian Healing.
She joined Wakai Waian Healing while completing her psychology studies and has since completed her undergraduate degree, Honours and a Master of Clinical Psychology.
Ms Upton is also the first clinician to undertake Wakai Waian Healing's Clinical Registrar Program.
Her appointment reflects the organisation's focus on growing Indigenous clinical leadership from within.
Rebecca Edmund has been appointed senior administration lead and will join the senior management team.
Ms Edmund will provide oversight of administration systems, processes and organisational operations as Wakai Waian Healing continues to expand its workforce, service footprint and community responsibilities.
Together, the appointments create a leadership structure that treats cultural governance, clinical governance and operational leadership as connected parts of organisational work.
Wakai Waian Healing said the model moves away from treating culture as an advisory function and instead embeds cultural authority in strategy, workforce development, service delivery, accountability and organisational culture.
The changes come during a period of growth for the organisation, which delivers services across several Queensland regions through psychologists, occupational therapists, social and emotional wellbeing practitioners and community development professionals.
The organisation has also led consultations across Zenadth Kes, working with Elders, cultural leaders, churches, health services and communities on community-led approaches to mental wellbeing sovereignty.
Mr Mosby said the structure would help prepare the organisation for future growth.
"As Indigenous organisations continue to grow, there is an opportunity to think differently about how we structure leadership and governance," he said.
"We want to build an organisation that is culturally strong, professionally respected and community-led. These appointments help position us to do that while continuing to support our staff and strengthen the services we provide."
The model offers a practical example of Indigenous-led governance in social and emotional wellbeing, with cultural authority, clinical practice and operational leadership working together in service of communities.
Original reporting by Tom Hearn.
