Rachel Bruce is honoured to be elected the first dedicated Torres Strait Islander director on the AASW Board. Photo: AASW.
A Thursday Island woman has been appointed Australian Association of Social Workers’ (AASW) first dedicated Torres Strait Islander director.
Rachel Bruce will take on the role after AASW’s annual general meeting on 6 November 2025.
A spokesperson said the milestone delivered on AASW’s commitment to representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at the highest level of the organisation’s governance.
Born and raised on Thursday Island, Ms Bruce’s ancestral heritage is Meriam (Eastern) and Mabuiag (Western) Islands.
An accredited mental health social worker, she has more than two decades’ experience supporting and advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities across Queensland and beyond.
Muriel Wymarra made history in 2024 as the first Torres Strait Islander appointed to the AASW Board as an ordinary director. Ms Bruce is the first to hold the dedicated Torres Strait Islander director position.
Ms Bruce is currently operations manager at Mura Kosker Sorority Inc. in the Torres Strait. Her career spans government, community-controlled and not-for-profit sectors, with a focus on culturally informed practice, social and emotional wellbeing and community empowerment.
Her achievements include designing culturally grounded service models recognised with state awards and providing professional and cultural supervision to social workers and staff.
She said it was an honour to be elected as the first Torres Strait Islander director on the AASW Board.
“This role is an opportunity to ensure Torres Strait Islander voices are not only heard, but meaningfully influence the direction of our profession,” she said.
AASW is the professional body representing social workers in Australia.
AASW national president Julianne Whyte OAM said the new director position was a meaningful step for the organisation and the profession.
“Creating a Torres Strait Islander director position reflects AASW’s commitment to representation, self-determination and respect for the distinct cultural identities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” she said.
“Rachel’s leadership and cultural knowledge will strengthen our collective voice and guide our work towards a more inclusive and representative association.”
The director role follows constitutional changes that created two distinct identified positions on the board: Aboriginal director (held by Dr Susan Green) and a Torres Strait Islander director. The change recognises the unique identities, experiences and aspirations of the two cultures.
