Pamela Mam

Pamela Mam (Deceased 2020) INDUCTED 2008

Though Aunty Pamela Mam was born in Richmond in 1938, she was from Palm Island and a descendant of the Kuku Yala nji peoples in the Cooktown area. Her mother was taken from Cooktown during the stolen generation, and was sent away to Palm Island, away from people and Country. Pam and her husband, Steve Ware, had two children, Tomasina and Mukubi.

Pamela started working as a Nurse Aid in Palm Island Hospital and worked there for four years. She completed her general training at Townsville Hospital between 1954 and 1959. She then went on to practice midwifery at the Royal Women’s Hospital. In 1973 she began working in the Raff Ward of the Royal Children’s Hospital. Pamela was strongly encouraged by her husband to work in a field that would allow her to truly help her people’s health. For over 60 years, Aunty Pamela worked and advocated from the front lines of the fight for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. In 2015, Griffith University and ATSICHS Brisbane established the Aunty Pamela Mam Indigenous Nursing Scholarship aimed at assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery students. In 2018, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Griffith University. Pamela had said that nursing was, at times, a real challenge. Against all odds and her limited high school education, she succeeded tremendously in both her personal and her professional life and forged a career in the difficult and complex world of health. Being a role model for Indigenous people, and encouraging them to achieve despite the challenges, was a real highlight for Aunty Pamela. Her greatest achievement can be seen in the establishment of the Aboriginal and Islander Community Health Service and Jimbelunga Nursing Centre. Sadly, Aunty Pamela Mam passed away in January 2020 at the age of 82. Aunty Pamela is survived by Steve Ware Snr, Tomisina Ahwang, William Mam(deceased), Brent Lee, Yessa Mam, Mukubi Mam, grand-children, great grandchildren, and great great grand-children.