Pat Turner interviewed by Nikki Henningham in the Women and leadership in a century of Australian democracy oral history project [sound recording]

Pat Turner speaks about her family history, childhood and education; her public service career; her experience of bureaucracy relating to both women's affairs and indigenous affairs; role models; working for the Welfare Branch of the Department of the Interior in the Northern Territory; the Aboriginal Task Force at the South Australian Institute of Technology; the election of the Whitlam government and major changes to the administration of Aboriginal Affairs; her commitment to self determination for Aboriginal people; rejecting assimilation; working as the first Aboriginal woman welfare officer in the Department of the Interior; the importance of community controlled organisations for Aboriginal people; proposing new ways to deal with young offenders; developing a court education program; community activism; working for the Institute of Aboriginal Development; the Civil Rights Movement and Women's Liberation; the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern; the importance of a sense of identity; the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI); the Aboriginal Progress Association and Aborigines Advancement League; her student union involvement at the Australian Institute of Technology (SAIT); Northern Territory Land Rights and uranium mining at Ranger Mine; the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS); the Public Service Board; the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Aboriginal Childcare; the Aboriginal Health Branch of the Department of Health; the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC); government attitudes to Aboriginal issues; the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Melbourne in 1981; being a member of the Papal Taskforce for Pope John Paul's visit; organising the 5th Festival of Pacific Arts in Townsville in 1988; being Deputy Secretary in the Department of Health; Centrelink; leadership and integrity; mentors and role models; the importance of financial security.