Proud Bard/Yindijibarndi woman Professor Dawn Bessarab became Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health at The University of Western Australia in 2013. With a background in social work, she built a stellar career spanning teaching, research, and community service.
Professor Bessarab’s work with yarning was seminal in shaping how qualitative Aboriginal health research is approached. Clinical Yarning was later developed from her earlier work and expertise, and together with staff from the WA Centre for Rural Health she helped refine it into an Indigenous conversation framework now widely applied across Australia and internationally.
She was a tremendous friend and mentor to our staff, collaborating closely on research, Aboriginal community engagement, and efforts to translate knowledge into meaningful change. Unfailingly generous with her time, she has acted with deep integrity and remained steadfast in her commitment to Aboriginal advancement.
Professor Bessarab retired from UWA at the end of 2025, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to inspire.