Vale Jacinta Vanderfeen
2019 Fellow
Jacinta Vanderfeen was a Pakana woman from the North West coast of Tasmania, traditional family group of the Punnilerpanner people from the same area. Jacinta was Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment and Equity and Diversity Coordinator at the University of Tasmania.
Jacinta worked in staff education through professional development and advocacy for cultural awareness, gender equity and working with diverse groups. Jacinta trained staff and community organisations in Mental Health First Aid, Unconscious Bias and Ally Network support for LGBTIQ+ community, as well as increasing the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the university. She completed a Behavioural Science degree with a strong passion for social justice and equity and a desire to create change through education and advocacy.
Jacinta was on the Board of her local Aboriginal organisation and worked collaboratively with government agencies to rebuild the profile of the organisation with a demonstrated commitment to have health services returned to the organisation. In 2018 Jacinta commenced her Master of Research at the University of Tasmania, looking at the impacts of mainstream media on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.