CEDA - Inspiring change through passion and creativity

CEDA is delighted to welcome Dr James Fitzpatrick, a former winner of the Young Australian of the Year Award, and an inspired and passionate young paediatrician, researcher and entrepreneur. James has dedicated his life to improving Aboriginal and rural health, and works with many incredible organisations including Telethon Kids Institute and the National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

As a former Infantry soldier, James combines a scientific approach with a desire to get things done. As the chairman of the National Rural Health Students Network back in 2000, James rallied the organisation’s 5,000 members to deliver community service activities to some of Australia's most remote communities. That year, he also helped to establish the Carnarvon Children's Festival in response to alarming rates of youth suicide.

After being awarded Young Australian of the Year in 2001, James established PATCHES Paediatrics to harness the creativity of social enterprise and the precision of science to address seemingly intractable health problems in Aboriginal communities. James is also the founder of True Blue Dreaming, an outback youth mentoring program working with communities in the Wheatbelt and Kimberley.

James recently led a Federally-funded project aimed at documenting the prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) for the first time, and is working with community leaders in the Fitzroy Valley and Pilbara to achieve their bold goal of ‘making FASD history’.

Join James as he shares his incredible story and provides his top tips for aspiring leaders in all industries.

Cost: $7- for members and $100 for non-members.