One of the most consequential figures in Australian Indigenous health policy has announced her retirement, capping a decade at the helm of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) with a legacy of structural reform, pandemic leadership and a national agreement that reshaped the way governments work with First Nations communities.
Pat Turner AM (a proud Arrernte and Gurdanji woman) announced on 4 March 2026 that she would step down as NACCHO’s chief executive, a role she has held since 2016. She will also stand down as the elected Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Peaks.
Her deputy of nearly a decade, Dr Dawn Casey PSM FAHA (a Tagalaka Traditional Owner from North Queensland) has been appointed as the incoming CEO, providing continuity at the top of the organisation.
Ms Turner said the decision to retire was made with confidence in what NACCHO and the broader community-controlled health sector had built.
“It has been the privilege of my life to serve our people through NACCHO. Everything we have achieved has been driven by communities and by a sector that has always known its own strength” she said. “Community control works because it puts our people at the centre of decisions about our health. I leave knowing NACCHO is strong, our services are strong and the work will continue with the same determination that has always carried us forward.”
Among the most significant achievements of her tenure was the landmark National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which Ms Turner helped negotiate and which was signed by all Australian governments in 2020. The agreement (developed through the Coalition of Peaks) marked the first time First Nations community-controlled organisations were recognised as genuine partners in national policy, rather than simply as recipients of government programs.
Under her leadership, NACCHO also drew public attention to a $4.4 billion funding gap in Aboriginal community-controlled health – research that helped shift the national conversation about what adequate, equitable investment in Indigenous primary care actually looks like.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Ms Turner as a “formidable advocate.”
“Her tireless efforts have held governments to account, and she has worked hard to build strong working partnerships with First Nations people” he said. “She leaves her role with our thanks, and with our deep respect.”
Dr Casey said she was taking on the role with a clear sense of responsibility.
“Pat leaves big shoes to fill, and I want to acknowledge the strength of her leadership and what she has built… Community control is our strength, and that will remain at the centre of everything we do” Dr Casey said.
NACCHO Chair Donnella Mills has also been endorsed by the Coalition of Peaks as its new Lead Convenor, serving until a broader election is held in mid-2027.
Discover more from Indigenous News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
