Cilla Preece

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Chief Investigator on “Return to Country: a national study to return Indigenous renal patients home”

Ms Cilla Preece is a Torres Strait Islander woman from the Eastern group of Islands Erub (Darnley Island). She has a career in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health that spans over thirty years beginning at Wuchopperen Health Service in Cairns. Since then, she has worked in all areas of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health, research and health evaluation. A critical member of the original IMPAKT study team (“Improving Access to Kidney Transplants”, 2003-2006), her subsequent Master thesis was titled “Developing a model of care to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receiving renal dialysis treatment”.

Eight years ago Cilla commenced haemodialysis, and has experienced the difficulties associated with dialysis. She has worked in many fields of health at university level, with QUT, Brisbane, University of South Australia and the University of Melbourne. Cilla also completed over 27 independent projects as a consultant with CIRCA in Sydney and KHA in Adelaide. Cilla recently just completed a renal health project with QAIHC and four community-controlled health organisations within the Cairns area. She is a strong advocate and voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander renal patients and is Chief Investigator on “Return to Country: a national study to return Indigenous renal patients home”.