Alumni and Supporters

Diploma of Teaching (Secondary), 1984 
Bachelor of Education (Secondary – Pre-Service), 1987

Jody Broun has dedicated her career to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

From teaching in the classroom to her current role as Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), the proud Yindjibarndi woman prides herself on keeping strong connections to country, community and culture.

First studying a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) and then graduating from ECU with a Bachelor of Education (Secondary – Pre Service) in 1987, Jody knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age.

“I started out as a teacher which was something that I really was passionate about right from the word go, and remain very passionate about education, education policy, and the difference that can make for young people,” Jody explains. “I was one of these people who always loved school, and I had teachers who I saw as role models right through my school years - I can still remember teachers who actually inspired me to do better as a student.

Jody spent many of her early teaching years at Clontarf Aboriginal College, which gave her skills she would continue to use throughout her career.

“I was teaching kids who came from all different backgrounds, all Aboriginal kids, but all with different needs and different skills and strengths,” Jody says. “So being able to juggle that in a whole class, make sure everyone's needs were met, bringing together a team of people, inspiring them to do better in their own way. And I think it gave me some real strengths around negotiating, influencing and leading a team.”

Jody then moved into public service, going on to hold a range of senior positions across government and not-for-profit sectors, including Executive Director of Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure in Western Australia and Director General in Aboriginal Affairs in New South Wales.

"In all the roles I've done I've been able to go out and see something tangible that I have changed, whether it’s a policy outcome, getting people jobs on the ground, or a physical asset I’ve been able to help with," she says.

"Inspiring a team is what I get a lot of reward out of, and then going out into community and being able to see something that you were instrumental in making a difference in."

Among many career highlights, Jody says her time at former representative body The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, allowed her to co-lead a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health plan, as well as attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York on two occasions.

In her current role as Chief Executive Officer at the NIAA in Canberra, Jody is responsible for ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are heard, recognised and empowered.

“In the role I'm in now, it's very much about changing the way government does work with First Nations peoples through the closing the gap and the priority reforms - it's actually making that difference, and we are seeing that difference,” she says. “We're seeing great outcomes around things like SES 100, which was getting more Aboriginal people into SES roles.

“We see departments right across the board working much more strongly in partnership and taking responsibility for their obligations under Closing the Gap, but also for delivering better services to First Nations communities and peoples.”

Away from the high-pressure roles, Jody is an award-winning artist, renowned for her paintings that have been exhibited nationally as well as London, Singapore, Milan and Kyoto.

“I've kept up my art over the years because it's part of who I am. It's a release for me, and it's something I do to relax,” she says. “I've been really privileged with being able to get out to lots of parts of Australia that no one ever gets to, and I used to get a lot of my inspiration from those meetings at community, the leadership shown by elders, or just some sort of visual that I see on the side of the road that inspires me.”

In 2024, the mother of four and grandmother of 12 was named the winner of the ECU Community and Impact Alumni Award, for her service to indigenous communities.

An inspiring role model for so many, Jody is well-placed to give some sound advice to current students.

“I would suggest that if you're going into a career, look at what you're passionate about and go into the roles that you can actually feel like you're contributing to that area.”

“Whether it's science, law, policy, nursing - it doesn't actually matter. It's about what you're passionate about, because you're going to spend a lot of time working, and you want to make sure that you're getting as much out of it as you're giving.”