2. Traditional Welcome to Country – The Future of Peace Leadership

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April

2. Traditional Welcome to Country

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Dr Lois Peeler AM

Proud Yorta Yorta woman, activist and educator
Executive Director/Principal Worawa Aboriginal College

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Dr Lois Peeler AM

Lois Peeler is of Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri heritage by her mother and Wurundjeri Heritage by her father. She is the Executive Director and Principal of Worawa Aboriginal College.

Lois’ up-bringing included family life on the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve and the river flats of Mooroopna where activism for improved conditions for Aboriginal people was deeply embedded. She grew up surrounded by strong men and women who, based on their lived experience, led the fight for equal rights for Aboriginal people to education, healthcare, housing, legal services and social justice.

Lois has had a diverse career in the music industry, public service, community development, social activism, tourism, community development and Aboriginal education. One of the original members of The Sapphires, an all-girl singing group from the 1960s, she is also acknowledged as Australia’s first Aboriginal model and TV presenter.

A dynamic contributor to Aboriginal affairs Lois has held many positions in the government, community, corporate and philanthropic sectors. Following a successful career as a fashion model, and a stint of living overseas, Lois began her career in the community sector as Assistant Director of the Aborigines Advancement League leading to senior positions in the State and Federal public service (spanning 16 years in public sector Aboriginal Affairs).

Lois entered the public service as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands where she managed the first Aboriginal Ranger Program. She became Director of the Aboriginal Employment Unit within the Office of Merit Protection of the Victorian Public Service Board where she had responsibility for a number of staff and managed implementation of the Aboriginal Employment Strategy across the Public Service.

Upon departure from the VPS, Lois became the elected Chair of the Binjirru Regional Council of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) responsible for the eastern region from Wodonga to Cann River in Gippsland. She held the community elected position of Chair for three consecutive terms. She was appointed as a Director of the Indigenous Land Corporation, Land Enterprise Australia and to the board of Parks Victoria.

Lois headed Aboriginal Tourism Australia for more than a decade leading Indigenous tourism development. She was a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee to SOCOG for the Sydney Games and co-authored the Respecting our Culture (ROC) tourism accreditation program for the Australian Tourism industry. The ROC program continues to be in use across the tourism industry today. Lois is author of Aboriginal Oral History of the Flats and co-author of Yorta Yorta Language Heritage.

Lois was a founding member of the national Federation of Aboriginal Women and held the position of secretary. She was also a founding member of Koorie Women Mean Business and appointed to the Victorian Women’s Advisory Committee. She was a trustee of the Fairley Foundation and appointed to a term as Acting Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People (Victoria).

In 2003 Lois received The Centenary Medal for her work in tourism. In 2014 she was made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her significant service to the Indigenous community as an educator, advocate and role model. In 2017 she was Senior Victorian of the Year and in the same year she was awarded a Doctor of Social Science, Honoris Causa, by RMIT University. In 2020 she was inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll. Lois is currently Chair of the Department of Justice Eastern Metropolitan Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (RAJAC), a member of the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and statewide Aboriginal Justice Forum and Chair of the Aboriginal Independent Prison Visitors Program.

Lois has a strong commitment to the education and preservation of Victorian Aboriginal history and culture. She has delivered an annual Oration for both the University of Melbourne (2020) and Swinburne University (2020) where her respective topics were on Aboriginal Oral History and Enduring Legacies. In her current role as Principal of Victoria’s only Aboriginal school she has established a Dreaming Trail, History Walk and is currently involved in the development of an Aboriginal Resource Centre and Professional Learning Institute to focus on Victorian Aboriginal history and culture and achievements. Lois was recently appointed to the Museum Victoria Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.