We are delighted to announce that Associate Professor Katherine Francis has been appointed as CAPHIA’s Indigenous Health Education Director, bringing deep expertise in decolonising curriculum, Indigenous educational leadership, and systems change across higher education.

A leader committed to decolonising education

Associate Professor Francis is a public health academic at Adelaide University and a leader in Aboriginal Health education whose work has centred the transformation of health education through Indigenous knowledges and culturally responsive pedagogy, alongside institutional structural reform. She has spoken openly about the importance of leading with authenticity, drawing on her own journey of reconnecting with Country and culture after the disruptive impacts of colonisation.
Since entering academia, Kath has focused her career on decolonising health curriculum and weaving Aboriginal knowledges into higher education curriculum and systems. Her work reflects a clear belief that the graduates shaped through today’s universities will influence whether tomorrow’s health systems are equitable, culturally safe, and fit for purpose.

Driving change at scale

Kath currently co-leads Indigenous Health Education within the College of Health at Adelaide University, teaching one of the institution’s largest student cohorts. Her leadership has already had significant reach across the tertiary sector. Her research is also now focused on Indigenous Health Education, supervising several Higher Degree Research students and undertaking research projects in this space.

At the former University of South Australia, she led the Aboriginal Curriculum portfolio, establishing a university-wide approach to embedding Aboriginal knowledges across disciplines through curriculum and pedagogy. This included creating dedicated curriculum teams, staff development programs, practical resources, and capability uplift initiatives that enabled educators to redesign subjects and strengthen allyship across the university.

She later helped shape the Aboriginal Knowledges in Curriculum portfolio during the establishment of Adelaide University, co-leading governance frameworks, strategic planning, and the mobilisation of around 100 staff contributors to advance Indigenous teaching and learning priorities.

Why This Appointment Matters

Kath’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for CAPHIA and for academic public health more broadly. Across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific, universities are being called to prepare a workforce that can work in partnership with communities, respond to structural inequities, and lead with cultural humility.
Her leadership strongly aligns with CAPHIA’s strategic priorities to strengthen equity, partnerships, professional development, and future-focused workforce capability. It also reinforces CAPHIA’s commitment to decolonising public health education and centring Indigenous voices across curriculum, pedagogy, governance, and advocacy.

Kath has already been a major contributor to CAPHIA’s work, including previous Board service, interim Treasurer responsibilities, contributions to the Third Edition Competencies renewal process, co-chairing the Professional Development Committee, and helping design collaborative professional development in decolonising public health.

Looking Forward

As Indigenous Health Education Director, Kath will help guide CAPHIA’s next phase of impact, including supporting the Leaders and Educators in Indigenous Public Health network, strengthening culturally responsive public health education, and helping shape graduates who can contribute to healthier futures for all communities.

Kath brings wisdom, credibility, and a practical track record of transformation. We are thrilled to welcome her to the CAPHIA Board and look forward to the leadership she will bring.