Sonia Waters
Executive Manager, Workforce
Sonia Waters is a proud Aboriginal woman from South Australia, a descendent to three generations of Stolen Generations women, with connection to Ooldea on the Far West Coast of South Australia.
Sonia’s career spans 40 years working in Aboriginal leadership roles across multiple South Australian Government Departments, including Housing and Construction, Education, the Arts, Employment, Health, Human Services, Social Inclusion, Premier and Cabinet and 13 years in the Community Services Sector. She is an advocate for human rights and social justice.
Sonia led Aboriginal Health Workforce Planning and Reform for 16 years in the South Australian Department of Health. She founded several Aboriginal Scholarship initiatives, including co-founding the Australian Rotary Aboriginal Health Scholarships. These have contributed to graduating hundreds of Aboriginal health professionals across the nation.
Sonia was inducted into the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll in 2016. She is a Governing Board Member of the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network Governing Board, founding Board Member of the South Australian Aboriginal Stolen Generations Corporation, a founding Advisor to the Oversight and Advocacy Authority for Aboriginal Children and Young People, Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee and a Member of the Sanctuary Faculty.
