Based in Meanjin, Nicole is a proud Palawa mother of two daughters who teach her everything she needs to know about a meaningful life. She is passionate about genuine knowledge translation that benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at a grass roots level. Nic has over 10 years of experience applying strengths-based, healing-informed, and trauma aware approaches in the areas of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), culturally responsive practice, cancer and palliative care.  Importantly, Nic acknowledges that she walks in footsteps Millenia old and holds a deep respect and gratitude for the Elders that have come before and those that guide and support her, today.  The following achievements are a testament to these giants and their ongoing legacies.

 As Project Manager in the First Nations Cancer and Wellbeing Program at UQ, Nic supports the Implementation of What Matters 2Adults wellbeing measure to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples using cancers services in NSW. 

Nic is also part of the collaborative at UQ's Child Health Research Centre, appointed to revise the National Australian Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of FASD. As part of this work and in collaboration with an extraordinary team of Aboriginal FASD knowledge holders, Nic led the development of Australia's first FASD Indigenous Framework. She is currently undertaking a PhD which focuses on the implementation of the FASD Indigenous Framework into mainstream clinical practice and Aboriginal community control health services.

Previously, Nic joined Dr Peter d'Abbs, to co-author a Sourcebook of programs aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm in Aboriginal communities. 

In an effort to learn the lessons from past efforts – both successful and not so successful – and to strengthen the evidence-base going forward, this Sourcebook brings together selections from original writings as well as our own explorations of actions by Aboriginal communities and organisations aimed at reducing alcohol-related harms. The book can be accessed at no cost, via the following link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-99-0401-3

During 2018-2023, Nic was a board member and Treasurer of the National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (NOFASD) and from 2016 - 2021 she was a committee member of the NHMRC Alcohol Working Group, appointed to update Australia's alcohol drinking guidelines. 

Featured projects Duration
Implementing What Matters 2 Adults