Dr Robert Isaac’s lifetime of working for Indigenous people recognised by NAIDOC

When Robert left Clontarf Boys Home aged 17, the priest told him that he would never amount to anything. Sixteen years later he returned to Clontarf as Dr Isaacs to set up Clontarf Aboriginal College, Australia’s first Indigenous school.

This is just one of Robert’s many achievements from over forty years of working on behalf of Aboriginal people. And now, he has been recognised as the National NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year.

A member of the Stolen Generations, Robert left Clontarf Boys Home and started working as an Aboriginal Health Worker.

“My career has progressed through Aboriginal affairs and I’ve always tried to advance the status of Aboriginal people,” Robert said.

“I’ve sat on boards and committees over the years to ensure that our issues, particularly around health, are better dealt with.

It’s this drive which has led to Robert’s appointment as Chair of the Australia Day Council WA and the Western Australian Aboriginal Lands Board, as well as an executive member of the State Government's Aboriginal Advisory Council.

The decades of Robert’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. In addition to the NAIDOC honour, he has received a Centenary Medal in 2001, an Order of Australia Medal in 2002 and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in June this year.

Robert says that he is not one to rest on his laurels though.

“I’ve been involved in Aboriginal affairs for over forty years and while I have seen advances, there is still poverty and there is still a lot of healing that needs to happen,” Robert said.

“I’m working to improve the justice system in Western Australia and helping to assist Aboriginal people achieve home ownership and housing security.

“I advise the Western Australian Government that Aboriginal people have to be engaged in any major decision making and that Aboriginal people need to come first, not bureaucrats,” he said.