Kirsty migrated from Aotearoa (New Zealand) at 10, where Māori culture and language were embedded in everyday life. Her early schooling included performing the haka at school sports events and learning Te Reo Māori as part of the curriculum.
Arriving in Australia, she experienced a stark contrast. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history were not part of her everyday school environment. Australia’s colonial history was largely absent from the classroom for much of her education. It wasn’t until the end of her university studies that she began to confront the truth of this country’s past and the ongoing impact of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Kirsty has over 17 years of experience as a psychologist. She has worked across a range of settings, including Queensland Health, James Cook University, North West Primary Health Care, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and many years in private practice. She now lives and works on the traditional lands of the Gubbi Gubbi people.
Early in her career, Kirsty worked in rural and remote communities in North West Queensland, where she witnessed firsthand the visible disadvantage, discrimination, and trauma experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members. These experiences led her to critically reflect on her own role as a white health professional and the broader systemic inequities impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In 2007, while working in the region, Kirsty witnessed the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 to enable the implementation of the Northern Territory National Emergency Response (commonly known as the NT Intervention). This was a difficult time for Kirsty—not only because of the nature of the intervention itself but also because she realised how limited her role as a psychologist felt in addressing the ongoing structural and systemic injustices experienced by First Nations community members.
As a psychologist, Kirsty is deeply aware of the privilege she occupies and the discomfort that can come with recognising her place within systems shaped by colonial power. Instead of expecting this discomfort to disappear, Kirsty remains committed to ongoing reflection, listening, and learning. Her practice as a psychologist is grounded in respect and a deep recognition of the strength, sovereignty, and knowledge held within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
In the wake of the 2023 referendum on a Voice to Parliament, Kirsty decided that she needed to do more as an ally and advocate. When she discovered the work of Wakai Waian, she felt an immediate connection to its mission and values. She recognised it as the right place to integrate her professional skills, personal ethics, and commitment to ongoing learning and unlearning in her role as a clinical psychologist.