His passion and goal are to strengthen and enhance our community-controlled health services nationally so we can improve both the quality and life expectancy for First Nation’s people.  John particularly is keen to help improve the mental health of the people nationally, with a holistic approach to primary health care.

John has represented ATSIC at the United Nations Working Group of Indigenous Populations in Geneva, and at Indigenous economic conferences in Canada.

In April last year, John was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Charles Darwin University in recognition for his exemplary work over the last decades in various Aboriginal organisations and more recently the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector and advocating for Aboriginal Territorian’s during COVID-19.

He is currently a member of the Coalition of Peaks on the Joint Council for Closing the Gap. 

John possesses a Bachelor of Social Science – Human Service Management, Edith Cowan University, 1992 and is a Life Member of Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, 2006.