Valerie Swift, a proud Minang Elder, was born at the Gnowangerup Mission Hospital in 1953 on the traditional lands of the Goreng people. A member of the Gray–Knapp family, with extensive family connections across Western Australia and Traditional connections to the Ngadju peoples, Valerie grew up in Jerramungup with her 17 siblings, spending her childhood living off the land in a tin humpy in the bush.
Adjunct Professor Swift is currently a Co-Director of the Djaalinj Waakinj Centre for Ear and Hearing Health Centre and is the Aboriginal Cultural Advisor for The Kids Research Institute Australia’s Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases in Perth. She is a qualified Aboriginal health professional, adjunct professor at Curtin University, Aboriginal researcher and committee member of Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation, Babbingur Mia Aboriginal Family Support Program, and Yarramoup Aboriginal Corporation. She has had a distinguished career in health, education and welfare services management, driving new initiatives and striving for change to improve the effectiveness of Aboriginal programs.
