Gail Garvey

Gail Garvey is an Indigenous Australian Health Services Researcher with a core focus on Psycho-oncology and Indigenous people. Garvey is a Kamilaroi woman whose family originated from Moree in western New South Wales. She was a professor at the Menzies School of Health, and served as a Senior Principal Research Fellow and Deputy Division Leader for the Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Diseases Division. In 2021, she was appointed as a Professor at the University of Queensland, Brisbane.

Academic career

Garvey began her career in education. She completed a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) at Newcastle College of Advanced Education in 1986 and a Master of Education (Research) at the University of Newcastle in 2000 Her work in cancer has illuminated critical shortcomings in health system performance for Indigenous Australians affected by cancer and has identified pathways to improve equity of access and outcomes. Garvey has been very active in developing protocols that reduce cancer rates in indigenous populations, and putting in place screening strategies that are more culturally appropriate for local populations.

Awards and recognition In 2009 Garvey won the Our Women, Our State Awards award.

In 2015 Garvey won the Harry Christian Giese – Research into Action Award.

In 2016 Garvey won both the Bupa Health Foundation Award – Emerging Health Researcher and the Lowitja Institute Cranlana Award.

In 2020 Garvey won the Alumni Medal for Professional Excellence.

Garvey was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day Honours for her "significant service to Indigenous health, and cancer research".

In 2025 Garvey won the Tom Reeve Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cancer Care.

Selected works Celebrating 20 years : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical education. Newcastle, NSW: University of Newcastle.