Sandra Eades

Sandra Eades (born 1967) is a Noongar medical doctor and researcher, and the first Aboriginal medical practitioner to be awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy in 2003. She was the Dean of Medicine at Curtin University from March 2020, and from June 2026, joined the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University.

Early life and education Sandra Eades was born in Mount Barker, Western Australia and at the age of 12 moved to Perth with her family. In primary school, she wanted to be a doctor but thought she would not have that opportunity as an Aboriginal girl.

Career Eades worked in the public hospital system after graduating from medical school, and was a general practitioner with the Aboriginal Medical Service for seven years.

As Head of Indigenous Maternal and Child Health, and Associate Head of Preventative Health Research at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, She was senior research fellow at The Sax Institute in Sydney from 2004 to 2008, and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney from 2012 to 2013. Moving to Melbourne in mid-2008 she joined the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and in 2018 she became Associate Dean Indigenous at the University of Melbourne.

Awards and honours Eades's work in pediatric and perinatal epidemiology has improved the lives of Aboriginal women and children. 2006: NSW Woman of the Year. 2015: Inaugural winner, Lowitja Institute Cranlana Award 2020: Elected Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (FASSA). 2022: Officer of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to medical research, to Indigenous health, and to professional organisations" 2023: Elected Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE).