B Welfare Studies; Dip Mental Health; Australian Public Service Commission Leadership Program, Member Australian Institute of Company Directors
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 August 2022 Tom was the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia after being actively involved in the establishment and commencement of the organisation whilst Chairperson of NATSILMH (now dissolved via member agreement).
Tom is a Kamilaroi/Gomeroi man born in Gunnedah, NSW. He is a member of the Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council and Indigenous Allied Health Australia. Tom is a Director of Flourish Australia and a member of The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) Learning Network. Since 2018 Tom has been a part-time Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW and continues in that role. Additionally, Tom provides consultancy services across a range of services.
Current employment: Chair of the SANE Australia Reconciliation Action Plan Committee and involved in the Digital Navigation initiatives. In May 2024 Tom won the RANZCP, Mark Sheldon Prize recognises outstanding contributions to Indigenous mental health in Australia or New Zealand.
Previously Tom was the State-wide Coordinator for the NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce Program, a position he held between 2007 and 2021. Tom was a Co-Chair of the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy Taskforce.
Chair of Reconciliation Action Plan Committee
Chair of National LiFE Awards Committee
