Dan is a proud Barkindji man who grew up primarily in Dubbo on Wiradjuri Country before moving to Canberra on Ngnunnawal and Ngambri Country. Dan has a breadth of experience across multiple sectors, including national and state government, community and disability sectors, and all levels of the education sector. These roles primarily focused on First Nations outcomes and systemic improvement, with the Indigenisation of curriculum and cultural competency throughout all levels of education being a primary focus.

Dan has his Bachelor of Psychological Sciences and is completing his honour’s year in psychology at the University of Canberra before commencing postgraduate training in 2024. Dan hopes to focus his PhD studies on improving the cultural competency of early career psychologists through interventions at the master’s level during clinical training.

Dan brings a unique intersection of skills to Gayaa Dhuwi and hopes this work will improve the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health of First Nations Australians through systemic and impactful changes that drastically reduce First Nations suicide.