Dr Elizabeth McEntyre is a Worimi Guringay and Wonnarua Elder whose lifelong commitment to justice, cultural leadership and social work has made a significant impact across criminal justice, mental health, disability and ageing sectors.

Drawing strength from her deep connection to Country, Dr McEntyre has spent much of her career working to transform systems that have historically disadvantaged and marginalised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Living on and growing old with her Ancestral Lands and Waters has shaped a strong cultural identity and a profound sense of responsibility to community, culture and future generations.

Throughout her career, Dr McEntyre has intentionally sought roles that enabled her to challenge inequity and influence change. Her work has focused particularly on supporting Aboriginal peoples, families and communities who have come into contact with Australia’s criminal justice systems. Through leadership, research and advocacy, she has worked to ensure that the voices and experiences of First Nations peoples are heard and reflected in policy, practice and service delivery.

Her professional journey has been informed by both lived experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by many Aboriginal families. Witnessing the impact of unresolved trauma, mental ill health and cognitive disability on family members and communities reinforced her commitment to pursuing Aboriginal-led research and culturally informed solutions.

This commitment has led to an extensive body of work exploring the intersection of criminal justice, social and emotional wellbeing, disability and mental health. Dr McEntyre has partnered with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across New South Wales and the Northern Territory to better understand the growing number of Aboriginal people with mental and cognitive disabilities involved in the criminal justice system. She has also collaborated with First Nations peoples in the forensic mental health system to document their lived experiences and contributed to research examining culturally responsive alternatives to imprisonment.

Today, Dr McEntyre continues to influence policy and practice through a range of leadership and advisory roles. As a member of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal, she conducts civil and forensic hearings and contributes to decision-making processes that affect some of the state’s most vulnerable people. She also advises governments, universities, peak bodies, professional associations and service providers on issues relating to social and emotional wellbeing, justice reform and culturally responsive practice.

Her expertise extends to the ageing and aged care sectors, where she contributes to national quality initiatives and work aimed at ending the abuse and mistreatment of older Australians. As an experienced Board Director, she provides strategic oversight of cultural governance, practice governance, quality and risk, while ensuring that the perspectives of historically marginalised communities remain central to decisionmaking.

Dr McEntyre’s contributions have been recognised nationally. In 2022, the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales recognised her as one of the outstanding women who helped initiate and lead mental health reform in the state between 1970 and 2020. In 2024, she received the Indigenous Allied Health Australia Excellence in Research Award, acknowledging her significant contribution to Indigenous-led research and knowledge.

As a social worker, researcher, Board Director and advisor, Dr McEntyre continues to champion justice, self-determination and culturally informed approaches that improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Her work demonstrates the vital role social workers can play in challenging systemic inequity, influencing reform and creating lasting change for communities.

A proud member of the AASW, Dr McEntyre’s leadership, research and advocacy represent an outstanding contribution to both the social work profession and the broader Australian community.