Professor Sandra Eades AO receives the inaugural Tom Calma Award

Tom Calma AO presenting the Tom Calma Award to Professor Sandra Eades AO, Deputy Dean Indigenous, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.
Tom Calma AO presenting the Tom Calma Award to Professor Sandra Eades AO, Deputy Dean Indigenous, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

Professor Sandra Eades, Deputy Dean Indigenous in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, was honoured with the inaugural Tom Calma Award at the Oceania Tobacco Control Conference held on 24 October 2024.

The award recognises her achievements in the field of tobacco control, which has had a transformative impact on public health in Australia.

Professor Eades earned her medical degree in 1990 and, after working as a General Practitioner, transitioned to health research at the Telethon Kids Institute. In 2003, she became Australia's first Aboriginal medical doctor to receive a PhD. In 2006, Professor Eades was named NSW Woman of the Year, for significant contributions to Aboriginal health research. Professor Eades was also honoured with a Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health. In 2020, she became the first Aboriginal Dean and Head of the Curtin Medical School.

Her work includes leading the first Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-specific randomised controlled trial, focussed on smoking and pregnancy, among many other groundbreaking achievements. From advocating for systemic reforms that address the historical and social contexts of tobacco use in Indigenous communities to leading globally recognised research that has improved maternal and child health, Professor Eades’ work has paved the way for positive and lasting change.

The Tom Calma Award recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, and commitment to social justice, health equity, and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Award recognises Professor Sandra Eades’ professional achievements, but also her courage in holding the tobacco industry accountable and addressing the inequities that continue to impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The selection panel recognised that her leadership has driven real change. This award is a testament to the difference that Professor Eades has made.