Dulcie Flower
Dulcie Flower {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} is an Australian human rights activist, a healthcare worker dedicated to the improvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and well-being. She campaigned for constitutional change for Australia's First Nations people, including the 1967 Australian referendum. Dulcie worked with other activists to establish the Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative in Sydney, New South Wales.
Early life
Dulcie was born in Cairns in 1938, growing up with strong ties to her family in the Torres Strait Islands.{{Cite web |last=Australia |first=National Museum of |title=Collaborating for Indigenous Rights Home |url=https://indigenousrights.net.au/people/pagination/dulcie_flower |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=indigenousrights.net.au |language=en-US}}
Career
Dulcie trained to be a Registered Nurse in Cairns before moving to Sydney to continue her training in midwifery.{{Cite web |last=McBride |first=Laura |date=12 July 2021 |title=Sydney Elders Exhibition - Dulcie Flower AM |url=https://australian.museum/learn/first-nations/sydney-elders/dulcie-flower/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Australian Museum}} She later became actively involved in the education and training of Indigenous health workers.{{Cite web |title=Aunty Dulcie Flower AM {{!}} NAIDOC |url=https://www.naidoc.org.au/awards/winner-profiles/aunty-dulcie-flower-am |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.naidoc.org.au}} She was a foundation member of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Nurses and Midwives and is an honorary Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU) presents an excellence award named for Aunty Dulcie Flower and Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood recognising a First Nations nurse who has contributed positively to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery professions or health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.{{Cite web |last=Queensland Nurses & Midwifes Union |title=Award Categories |url=https://www.qnmu.org.au/Web/Awards/AwardCategories.aspx |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250419004023/https://www.qnmu.org.au/Web/Awards/AwardCategories.aspx |archive-date=2025-04-19 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.qnmu.org.au |language=en}}
Awards
- 1992 - Order of Australia Medal for her work in the founding of the Aboriginal Medical Service, in Redfern.{{Cite web |title=1967 Referendum |url=https://nacchocommunique.com/tag/1967-referendum/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News |language=en-US}}
- 2019 - Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Indigenous community and to the 1967 Referendum campaign.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-06 |title=As a young nurse, Dulcie was not afraid to speak up. At 85, she's been given the NAIDOC lifetime achievement award |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-06/dulcie-flower-recognised-naidoc-lifetime-achievement-award/104052414 |access-date=2025-04-28 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
- 2024 - NAIDOC lifetime achievement award