Advancing Social Work in Mental Health Through SBP Advancing Social Work in Mental Health | Page 9

Advancing Social Work in Mental Health through Strengths-based Practice
her work has been working with persons with mental illness and back pain , and addressing this through individual intervention , and group work strategies . Diana has been teaching at RGHUS since 2013 and enjoys engaging with students , clients , and practitioners . Contact : Rossd810 @ gmail . com
Dorothy Savage was born the eldest child of Grace Smallwood ( Stanley ) and Archie Smallwood . Her strong paternal heritage is of the Birrigubba people and her clans are Bindal and Biri . Her mother ’ s heritage is of Kalkadoon and South Sea Islander . She has five biological children and 27 grandchildren . She also supported the raising of her siblings and their children . She is known as ‘ Big Mum ’ to these children . She is the eldest of 19 siblings . Dorothy ’ s husband of over 40 years is of Torres Strait Islander descent , from the Eastern Islands . The marriage of two different cultural groups has proven to be quite diverse , with both having similar but different cultures and values . Her strong heritage and family commitment to human rights has paved the way for her advocacy for others . Having retired from the Queensland Education Department after 27 years she continues to work in education . Her current position is Indigenous Student Support Officer , and sessional lecturer and tutor at James Cook University , Townsville . She has served as a Board of Director on many committees and currently serves on the James Cook University Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group to the Vice Chancellor . Her involvement on cultural heritage committees finds her negotiating for better education and employment opportunities , and positive recognition , for her people . In 2009 she was awarded Elder of the Year for National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration ( NAIDOC ), based on her commitment and achievements for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community . Contact dorothy . savage @ jcu . edu . au
Daniel J . Milller is a PhD student in the Department of Psychology , James Cook University , Australia . He holds a Bachelor of Arts-Bachelor of Journalism , and a Bachelor
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