Over the past 30 years Tom has been active in mental health and health policy, social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), clinical mental health care, suicide prevention, education, and mental health leadership. Between April 2020 and July 2022 Tom took up the inaugural position of Chief Executive Officer of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia after being actively involved in the establishment and commencement of the organisation.
Tom is a Kamilaroi/Gomeroi man born in Gunnedah, NSW. He is a member of the Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council, Indigenous Allied Health Australia and is an Executive Member and Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health Ltd. Alongside Carole Koha (NZ), Tom is the Co-Chair of the Wharerata Group, an International Indigenous Mental Health Leadership Group part of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL). Tom is a member of The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) Learning Network. Between 2020 and 2022 Tom was a Co-Chair of the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy Taskforce alongside Jennifer Taylor (PSM). Since 2018 Tom has been a part-time Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW and continues in that role.
Previously Tom was the State-wide Coordinator for the NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce Program, a position he held between 2007 and 2021.
