Dr Tracy Westerman AM

Our Founding Director & Presenter

Dr Tracy Westerman AM is a proud Nyamal woman from the Pilbara region of WA, Founding Director of the Westerman Jilya Institute, and long been considered a critical thought leader in aboriginal mental health, suicide prevention and cultural competency.

In 2003, she became the first Aboriginal person to complete a combined masters and PhD in clinical psychology. In 2018 she was awarded with the WA’s Australian of the year award as recognition for spending over two decades working to reduce the burden of mental ill health and suicide in Aboriginal communities.

Recognised with an Order of Australia (AM) in 2021 and named the 2018 Australian of the Year (WA), she recently published her award winning memoir, “Jilya,” documenting her transformative work in psychology.

Tex Garstone – Clinical Master

Inaugural Jilya 2020 Scholarship Recipient

Tex is a proud Bardi and Jaru person, with strong ties to both the Dampier Peninsula and the Kimberley desert region. Passionate about empowering Indigenous communities, they aim to become a psychologist specialising in cognitive and developmental psychology. Their goal is to work alongside the education sector in remote areas to support early childhood development and mental health, helping close the gap in Indigenous outcomes. They value the scholarship for its commitment to growing the Indigenous psychology workforce and changing the narrative toward Aboriginal-led solutions.

We are so proud that Tex will graduate with his clinical masters in 2027. He became the FIRST Aboriginal male from Halls Creek to graduate with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) in 2024 and is a proud OG (original gangstar) of the Dr Tracy Westerman Indigenous Psychology Scholarship Program.  

Tex will be presenting his research titled Investigating Driving Performance The Day After Alcohol Consumption 

Tex’s scholarship is sponsored by Grant Pirrie

Matthew Craig – Master of Neuropsychology

Jilya 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Matthew is a proud Bundjalung man, born and raised on Darkinjung/Guringai Country. As the first in his family to attend university, he is passionate about Indigenous mental health, cultural resilience, and community empowerment. A committed volunteer and researcher, Matthew’s work explores the links between culture, resilience, and neurological functioning. He is currently based at James Cook University’s Indigenous Education Research Centre, with plans to relocate to Far North Queensland to further support Indigenous communities.

He will be presenting his work titled Echoes of Country: The Intersection of Campus Design, Cultural Identity, Learning Experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

Matthew’s scholarship is sponsored by The Paul Ramsay Foundation

Tammy Hatherill – PhD Student

Jilya 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Tammy Hatherill is a proud Palawa/Pakana person of Tasmanian heritage who is now living in Darwin, on Larrakia land. Tammy is committed to advocating “choice” for First Nations people, particularly around their mental health care, using culture and connection, as part of those healing options. They are currently studying a Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland, with a passion for health, cultural rights and policy change.

Through their studies, they aim to bridge knowledge gaps, and advocate for change in the mental health sector to benefit First Nations people. Outside of university, Tammy is a registered psychologist in her own practice, Tribal Psychology. She also enjoys presenting and speaking about the strengths of culture, using their voice to improve understanding and acceptance. They are dedicated to preserving culture,  and encourages government and policy makers to allow its incorporation, more fully, as a choice for First Nations people, when seeking support for mental health issues.

Tammy will be presenting her work First Nations Tradition Healing within the Australian Mental Healthcare System

Tammy’s scholarship is sponsored by Mandura Foundation.

Dom Barry – Clinical Masters

Inaugural Jilya 2020 Scholarship Recipient

Dom is a proud Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara man from Central Australia who is in the final stages of his Clinical Masters and will graduate in 2025. Driven by a passion for culturally responsive mental health care, he aims to bridge the gap between lived experience in remote communities and policy-making.

Dom’s honours thesis which achieved a first class ranking was on “Conceptualising Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara mental health beliefs”  

This paper is a seminal paper and critical to our understanding of the role of traditional healing in psychology. Dom aspires to become a clinical psychologist, focusing on early intervention with children, families, and Aboriginal men. He is deeply committed to reducing issues like incarceration, domestic violence, and cultural disconnection through community-led, culturally grounded approaches. 

Dom was one of Jilya’s OG (original gangstar) Dr Tracy Westerman Indigenous Psychology Scholarship Program recipients.  

Dom’s scholarship is sponsored by the Turnbull Foundation.

Madison Cassady – PhD Student

Jilya 2024 Scholarship Recipient

Madison is a proud Nywaigi and Manbarra woman from North Queensland who currently resides on Bunurong Country in Naarm. Madison is committed to advocating for culturally responsive, patient centred care that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to self-determine their health care. She is currently studying Doctor of Philosophy – Clinical Psychology at Monash University with a passion for understanding and integrating Western approaches with Indigenous ways of social, emotional well-being. Through her studies, she aims to understand intergenerational trauma within her communities, while also highlighting the strength and resilience of her people who are actively breaking cycles of adversity. Outside of university, Madison works at the Fred Hollows Foundation, is a Director of Black Duck Group, an Observership Program ‘Observer’ with Aboriginal Hostels Limited, and a member of the Nywaigi Youth Council. 

Madison will be delivering Disrupting Intergeneration Trauma: Cycle Breakers