Vale Kay Van Norton Poche AO

Kay Van Norton Poche AO is remembered for her enthusiasm, her sincerity and dynamic nature. Kay brought these qualities to her vision for change in Indigenous health which was centred on equity, self-determination and higher education.

Image: Kay speaking at the 2014 launch of the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health

Kay’s work through the National Poche Indigenous Health Network is a legacy that will have profound impact. Kay understood the value of higher education, Indigenous leadership and health research in achieving transformational change. Since the Melbourne Poche Centre was launched in 2014, it has graduated over 40 Indigenous Health Leadership Fellows, attracted almost 30 PhD scholars, of whom 13 have graduated to date, with seven continuing as Post-doctoral Fellows. The Centre has also extended its HDR research internationally.

Through generosity and high expectation, Kay and her husband, Mr Greg Poche AO, have provided a foundation of possibility for healthy Indigenous futures.

The staff of the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health honour Kay and her commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities. We pay our deepest respects and sympathies to Greg and to Kay’s family and friends.

Kay’s passion and warmth will be missed.

Image: Kay with Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO at the launch of the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, in 2014