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Our People
Gidgee Healing is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service, whose strategic direction is determined by a Board of Directors. Our organisational mission and vision statements demonstrate a commitment to providing holistic and culturally appropriate health services, underpinned by a philosophy of community participation, and a strong focus on care coordination.
Team Gidgee
Gidgee’s extensive team is the backbone of our organisation. Our people work tirelessly to deliver high quality care to more than 7500 patients and their families across a vast service area. As an organisation, we recognise the commitment and dedication shown every day and thank every team member for their efforts.
Valerie Craigie
Board Deputy Chair
Valerie Craigie is a local Kalkadoon women actively involved in the community. Valerie’s work experience includes 4 years with Yapatjarra Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Services and with Injilinji Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Children and Youth Services (Yapatjarra’s sponsoring body) in the capacities of CEO, Office Manager & Finance Manager. She has also held positions with ATSIIC as an Aboriginal Women’s Officer; Department of Families as a Child Care Officer; Mount Isa College of TAFE and Tjilpatha Aboriginal Corporation. Valerie is the current Chairperson of the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS) and is still active on a number Boards and Committees for several Indigenous organisations. She was also part of the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women's Task Force on Violence from 1998 to 2000.
James Cripps
Chair, Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee
James is a Palawa man with family connections from Cape Barren Island, Flinders Island and mainland Tasmania. He relocated to Mount Isa in 2012 and is currently employed with Converge International as the Principal Consultant. James works across various environments including discreet, remote, rural, and metropolitan First Nations communities; and currently represents the North West Queensland region as a Director of Queensland Aboriginal Islander Health Council. With over 20 years’ experience in the health sector, James is dedicated to helping the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations people.
Pattie Lees AM
Director
Pattie Lees AM is CEO and long-term Board member of Injilinji Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Children and Youth Services which provides after school care and youth support, and also aged care support. Pattie was previously the CEO of West Queensland ATSI Legal Services for 20 years. A resident of Mount Isa since 1976, married for 54 years, mother of four children, grandmother to fourteen and great-grandmother to four, Pattie is deeply embedded in the local community. She has vast experience in advocating for, and on behalf of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at local, state, national and international levels, including as a delegate at several United Nations development forums.
Patricia Richards
Director
Patricia is a Waluwarra woman from the Georgina River. She is deeply involved with the local Mt Isa community and works within the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership. Patricia’s community involvement is one of her greatest assets. She volunteers with various sporting organisations, working across remote communities within the north west region to build strong relationships and partnerships with government, non-government and the private sector within these communities. Patricia was appointed to the Board in 2019 to fill a casual vacancy.
Leeona West
Director
Leeona West is a proud Kalkadoon woman on her mother's side and a proud Djaku-nde woman on her father’s side. She graduated from a Mount Isa community-based nursing program supported by both Injilinji and Deakin University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Nursing. Throughout her career, Leeona has worked in rural and remote hospitals, aged care facilities and Aboriginal Community Controlled health organisations. Leeona has worked across Cape York and the North-West Qld including the Gulf of Carpentaria where she was the Director of Nursing of Gununa Hospital (Mornington Island). Currently, Leeona is currently working with the First Nations Nursing and Midwifery Consultancy (FNNMC). Balancing her cultural responsibilities with her clinical skills, systems approach, and good governance practice, Leeona has proven her ability as a community leader in the health system.
Board of Directors
William Blackley
Board Chair
Valerie Craigie
Board Deputy Chair
James Cripps
Chair, Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee
Pattie Lees AM
Director
Patricia Richards
Director
Prof Gracelyn Smallwood AM
Director
Leeona West
Director