4 February marked the second anniversary of the passing of our Co-Patron, the late Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG. Dr O’Donoghue, a Yankunytjatjara woman and one of Australia’s most respected and prominent Aboriginal leaders, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on Kaurna Country, Adelaide, in her home state of South Australia.
Welcome to the first Doris newsletter of 2026. The Lowitja team hopes you all had a restful and rejuvenating break over Christmas and New Year. Last week Lowitja Institute held its first webinar of 2026, 'Protecting our kids: Confronting and challenging racism after 26 January'. This was a difficult yet incredibly important conversation around the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and what’s needed to protect their futures.
We had an excellent response to the webinar, which featured an amazing line-up of guests. Aboriginal and Torres Strait child advocates Eddie Betts and Adam Briggs added a little star power to one of the morning panels. They were joined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics and sector representatives, each contributing valuable perspectives. Our thanks go to facilitator Shelley Ware, who guided the conversation with expertise and care, and to all our speakers for their insights and commitment. Read Lowitja Institute’s new position paper here.
This week we reflected on the legacy of our Co-Patron, the late Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG, who passed away two years ago on 4 February 2024. We see it as important to acknowledge this anniversary and commemorate Dr O’Donoghue’s remarkable accomplishments, but to also pause and take stock of what we are striving to achieve in 2026.
As many of you know, Lowitja Institute has long advocated for greater support of Aboriginal community controlled organisations (ACCOs). We aren’t alone – a 2024 Productivity Commission review recognised ACCOs deliver better results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – yet present government practices do not reflect this value. Lowitja Institute is now gathering insights on ACCO research aspirations to help build a clearer picture of the sector’s needs. ACCO-led research ensures evidence is grounded in the priorities, knowledge systems, and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, so the data will play a huge role in identifying future opportunities for better investment and improved outcomes. You can read more about the ‘Looking back to look forward: aspirations for community controlled research’ project – including details of a public survey – in this edition of the Doris. We welcome and appreciate your input.
Guwayu (Later – Wiradjuri)
Michael
Second anniversary of the passing of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG
4 February marked the second anniversary of the passing of our Co-Patron, the late Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG. Dr O’Donoghue, a Yankunytjatjara woman and one of Australia’s most respected and prominent Aboriginal leaders, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on Kaurna Country, Adelaide, in her home state of South Australia.
Premiere of ‘LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy’ exhibition – A Documentary
We are proud to share with you the premiere of 'LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy’ Exhibition – A Documentary.
The documentary showcases the exhibition that was held at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery managed by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, University of South Australia, from 4 June to 25 July 2025. It portrayed Dr O'Donoghue's most iconic, triumphant, and heartbreaking moments from childhood, a career in health, Indigenous activism, high-profile leadership, and stellar career in Aboriginal Affairs.
Video: Adelaide’s Community broadcaster Channel 44
'The O’Donoghue family miss our beloved Aunty and Nana Lowitja every day. It’s still so hard to believe that she is no longer with us. We proudly carry forward and honour Dr O’Donoghue’s love for her people. Through Lowitja Institute and the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation, her determination to empower the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to lead with and for their communities, lives on.'
Deb Edwards, niece and Head of Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation
Dr O'Donoghue to be honoured by SA Government with a statue on Kaurna Country
Lowitja Institute commends the South Australian Government's announcement that a statue of our Co-Patron, the late Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG
will be erected at the Tarntanya Wama/Elder Park walkway, on the southern side of Karrawirra Parri/River Torrens, on Kaurna Country, by mid-2026.
The statue of Dr O’Donoghue is expected to be completed towards the end of the financial year, and is being designed by acclaimed sculptor Robert Hannaford AM.
(L-to-R): Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Attorney-General, South Australia, Kyam Maher MLC; Deb Edwards, niece and Head of Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation; and Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith.
This project forms part of the government's initiative to establish six statues to memorialise prominent Aboriginal South Australians, acknowledging their extraordinary contributions to communities and the state. It has been confirmed that statues will also be erected in honour of Gladys Elphick MBE, Dr Alice Alitya Rigney AO PSM, David Unaipon, Yami Lester OAM, and Garnett Ian Wilson OAM.
Looking back to look forward: aspirations for community controlled research
As a friend of Lowitja Institute, we invite you to have your say about the priorities, experiences and aspirations for future health and wellbeing research led by Aboriginal community controlled organisations.
Lowitja Institute is keen to create opportunities that support the aspirations of the sector in growing community controlled research that addresses community priorities to improve health and wellbeing for our mob.
Self-determined and community-led research positions our communities to design place-based, innovative, and community-driven initiatives that strengthen our efforts across the five reforms and seventeen objectives for closing the gap.
It is imperative that we continue to elevate our collective voice within the community controlled sector to effect change in and through research, now and into the future.
We are conducting a survey and invite you to have your say about the priorities, experiences, and aspirations for future health and wellbeing research led by Aboriginal community controlled organisations. For more information before you proceed with the survey, below is a link to a participant information sheet.
Addressing racism and its impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
On 29 January, we hosted an online webinar to explore the impacts of racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Entitled 'Protecting our kids: Confronting and challenging racism after 26 January', the event focused on how racism impacts on the health and wellbeing of our children and what’s needed to protect their futures, highlighting how Aboriginal-led and community-driven solutions can address racism and strengthen communities.
We heard from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, researchers, and community advocates who shared their knowledge and lived experience, and held space for honest conversations about racism, its impacts on children, and the collective action needed to create safer, more just futures.
Thank you to everybody who participated in or attended. Speakers in the webinar, hosted by Shelley Ware, included:
Natalie Lewis, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner
Professor Naomi Priest, ANU
Professor Cath Chamberlain, University of Melbourne
Professor Lindon Coombes, Director, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research
Beck Lewis, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research
Jamie Everingham, Racism and Allyship in Aboriginal Youth Spaces (RAAYS)
Bec Gillis, Racism and Allyship in Aboriginal Youth Spaces (RAAYS)
Eddie Betts, Founder, Eddie Betts Foundation
Adam Briggs, Chair, Adam Briggs Foundation
Apryl Day, Founding Executive Officer, Dhadjowa Foundation
The position paper highlights the ongoing and pervasive nature of racism in Australia and the ways systemic racism continues to be experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but particularly our children. It calls for urgent action to supporting local, community-led responses and driving systemic reform to protect and promote the wellbeing of our children.
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