Aunty Mara West

Adjunct Professor Mara West, a respected Yamatji Elder, has spent more than 50 years advancing the wellbeing of Aboriginal communities. As Manager of Operations in the Kulunga Aboriginal Unit, she provides essential cultural leadership, guiding research to reflect the priorities of Indigenous families. She helped develop The Kids’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Standards and contributed to the organisation’s 2024 rebrand through the Aboriginal Art Working Group. A key driver of The Kids’ Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, Dr West continues to champion respectful engagement, cultural understanding and equitable outcomes for Aboriginal children and families nationwide.