Ms Mercy Baird

Mercy Baird grew up in the Aboriginal community of Yarrabah, south east of Cairns. Her ancestry from her mother comes from the local Yirrganydji and Tjapukai people in the Cairns to Port Douglas run, the Umpila people of Cape Sidmouth of the Princess Charlotte Bay in Eastern Cape York. Her father’s side she is a Kabbi Kabbi, Gooreng Gooreng people of the Sunshine Coast region and South Sea Island from Pentecost and Ambrym Island in Vanuatu.

Mercy is a mother and grandmother and very passionate about advocating for equality and fairness to improve health outcomes, social, emotional well-being, and justice and education for her people. Mercy is dedicated to raising cultural awareness, education and training to interested individuals and groups to improve knowledge, skills and competencies for working with Indigenous peoples.

Mercy sees research as a key to learning new ideas and uncovering hidden gems of knowledge, skills, values and beliefs that can enrich our purpose and meaning as Indigenous people.  Mercy is a 4^th year PhD candidate with James Cook University, Cairns, Nguma-bada campus examining Indigenous peoples and healing philosophies. She is also a 13 years Master Instructor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid