Miss Lauwana Blackley

Portrait of Miss Lauwana Blackley

2020 College Recipient, College of Healthcare Sciences

Lauwana Blackley graduated from James Cook University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Nursing Science. In 2013, Lauwana was acknowledged for her substantial contributions to the nursing and midwifery profession and the health of Indigenous Australians, named as the Sally Goold Prize recipient for that year.

In 2018, she was recognised by Queensland Health as Palm Island Nurse of the Year on International Nurses and Midwives Day. A Bwgcolman woman who studied at boarding school in Charters Towers and Townsville before arriving at James Cook University, Lauwana returned to Palm Island after graduating with a mission to turn the tide on chronic kidney disease suffered by many locals. She is passionate about her community and is committed to improving the health standards amongst Palm Island locals.