The Senior Australian of the Year Award - 2006

State and National awards, which recognise and celebrate the contribution of older Australians to the community. This award is managed by the National Australia Day Council.

Dr Sally Goold OAM

Dr Goold received her award from the Prime Minister at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on Australia Day eve.

A lifetime of achievement within the nursing profession has seen her named Senior Australian of the Year. She has contributed to the Australian community through her work as a registered nurse and founder of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses. As a registered and very experienced nurse she has made substantial contributions to the training and development of Indigenous nursing staff.

Dr Goold was awarded a Doctor of Nursing (Honoris Causa) by the RMIT University in 2002. She has also received several other prestigious awards for her tireless services to nursing, and her work in the promotion of Indigenous nursing.

She was the first Indigenous qualified nurse in NSW and overcame many obstacles to undertake her training and achieve her dreams. Dr Goold was born in Narrandera 600km west of Sydney (Wiradjuri country), and came to Sydney as a child. She always wanted to be a nurse, and trained at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

She was told she had little hoping of passing her nursing exams as, in those days, Aboriginal people didn't even have citizenship or the right to an education, and she came from a poor family. But family members managed to provide the financial support she needed to complete her training. She qualified and worked in hospitals in medical, surgical and cardiac units and as a midwife. She went on to train others in hospitals and teach in universities. She established a book bursary for Indigenous nursing students. She now advises government as a member of the National Indigenous Council.

Dr Goold is an inspiration to all Australians, contributing her time and expertise to help people from all backgrounds. She is an outstanding role model for all Australians and her work underlines the significant contributions being made by older Australians.

Congratulations to Dr Goold.

Visit the Australian of the Year website for more information about the 2006 Senior Australian of the Year Awards.