Sandra Jan Creamer is a lawyer and

Indigenous peoples' rights Indigenous rights are those rights that exist in recognition of the specific condition of the Indigenous peoples. This includes not only the most basic human rights of physical survival and integrity, but also the rights over their land (includ ...

advocate from

Mt Isa Mount Isa ( ) is a city in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia. It came into existence because of the vast mineral deposits found in the area. Mount Isa Mines (MIM) is one of the most productive single mines in world history, base ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. she is also adjunct professor of Public Health at the

University of Queensland , mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work , established = , endowment = A$224.3 million , budget = A$2.1 billion , type = Public research university , chancellor = Peter Varghese , vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry , city = B ...

Early life and education

Sandra Jan Creamer is a

Waanyi The Waanyi people, also spelt Wanyi, Wanji, or Waanji, are an Aboriginal Australian people from south of the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Language The Waanyi language, although earlier thought to be extinct, was ...

and Kalkadoon woman from

, Queensland, Australia. She was raised by her father and 11 older siblings after losing her mother when she was a baby. She learned to read from her eldest sisters, who did not have the opportunity to go to high school. She holds a

Bachelor of Law Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...

degree from Deakin University Institute of Koorie Education (2012) and was admitted in 2020 as a lawyer.

Career

Creamer's work has included lecturing, writing submissions and articles, and the development of programs. Creamer worked as an Indigenous community liaison officer with Legal Aid Queensland, working with Indigenous women and children who were victims of crime, conducting legal information workshops and assisting in cases of racial discrimination and family law. In 2015, Creamer attended the Human Rights Advocacy Program at the

Columbia University in the City of New York Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatta ...

. The program includes advocacy, networking, skills-building, and academic coursework, and provides advocates with the opportunity to hone practical skills, develop a deeper understanding of human rights, and foster mutually beneficial relationships with organizations and individuals in their fields. Creamer taught in both the Tertiary Entry Program (TEP) and undergraduate courses within the Office of Indigenous Engagement of the

Central Queensland University Central Queensland University (alternatively known as CQUniversity) is an Australian public university based in central Queensland. CQUniversity is the only Australian university with a campus presence in every mainland state. Its main campus ...

(CQU) at

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of the ...

. She also supported

Aboriginal Aborigine, aborigine or aboriginal may refer to: *Aborigines (mythology), in Roman mythology * Indigenous peoples, general term for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area *One of several groups of indigenous peoples, see ...

and

Torres Strait Islander Torres Strait Islanders () are the Indigenous Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. Ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal people of the rest of Australia, they are often grouped ...

students studying Law at CQU as a casual Learning Advisor. In 2018, Creamer became Adjunct Professor for Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine of the

. she is adjunct professor of Public Health at the

Roles

In 2013, Creamer was one of the Australian delegates participating in the

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII or PFII) is the UN's central coordinating body for matters relating to the concerns and rights of the world's indigenous peoples. There are more than 370 million indigenous peop ...

(UNPFII) and was the Co-Chair of the Global Indigenous Women's Caucus (GIWC) for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Creamer is the CEO of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA) and a Board Director for both Amnesty International Australia and the International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI). In 2021, Creamer became one of the 19 members of the National Plan Advisory Group established by the

Australian Government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Government i ...

to inform the development of the National Plan to end family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia. She is a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group established by the Queensland Human Rights Commission, a group of First Nations advocates with an interest in promoting the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland. Creamer is Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Indigenous Peoples Rights International (2022). She is also an advisor for the Seventh Generation Board Fund whose work is dedicated to Indigenous Peoples' self-determination and the sovereignty of Native nations. Creamer has been a speaker at various conferences, including the ''STOP Domestic Violence Conference 2020'' at the Gold Coast, Queensland, 2020, and the ANROWS ( Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety) National Research Conference on violence against women, held online in 2022. Her presentation at ANROWS had the topic: ''Evidence Presentation 2: Putting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing at the heart of trauma-informed policy and practice''.

Recognition

In 2019, Creamer was awarded the AM (

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

) for her service to Indigenous women and to human rights.

Publications

Article in The Conversation: IPCC reports still exclude Indigenous voices. Come join us at our sacred fires to find answers to climate change

Journal article: Five enablers to deliver safe water and effective sewage treatment to remote Indigenous communities in Australia

Journal article: Water and health interlinkages of the sustainable development goals in remote Indigenous Australia

Journal article: Receiving essential health services on country: Indigenous Australians, native title and the United Nations Declaration

Journal article: Health's role in achieving Australia's Sustainable Development Goal commitments

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Creamer, Sandra Indigenous Australian women academics Indigenous Australian academics Indigenous rights activists Members of the Order of Australia Living people Deakin University alumni Year of birth missing (living people)