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Caris Jalla

Program Manager, BREATH

Caris Jalla

Program Manager, BREATH

BHlthSc, BEc, MPhil

Caris is the Program Manager of the BREATH Team. Her early research career started in the disability sector working with people with cerebral palsy. As a Project Officer and Researcher, she worked at The Kids in 2011 on the Breathing For Life study, which was a collaborative study between The Centre for Cerebral Palsy, Perth Children’s Hospital (known then as Princess Margaret Hospital), and The Kids (when it was Telethon Institute for Child Health Research). In a full circle career path, she returns again under the Wal-yan Centre.

Caris earned her double degree, a Bachelor in Health Science and Economics from the University of Western Australia, and a Masters in Philosophy (Health Sciences) from Curtin University. Her Masters research focused on the facilitators and barriers of health, disability and wellbeing with Aboriginal children and young people in Western Australia (WA). She graduated in 2016 with her thesis titled ‘Talking about health, wellbeing and disability in young people: an Aboriginal perspective’.

Caris is a proud Kelabit woman, an Indigenous people group of Borneo. Her family background has impacted her continued commitment to work for health equity, particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Prior to her current role, she has worked in the health, disability and employment sectors, including managing outreach health service delivery in Aboriginal remote and regional communities across WA. She has held Executive roles and been a Board member a number of not-for-profit organisations.

Her most recent role was with Minderoo Foundation, where she was part of a national team that delivered the inaugural Australian Indigenous Employment Index 2022 – Woort Koorliny National Report. Another key role Caris has, and her most rewarding by far, is mum of two little ones, her daughter now 3 years and son 1.5 years old.

Education and Qualifications

  • Masters of Philosophy (Health Sciences) – Curtin University
  • Bachelor of Health Sciences & Economics – The University of Western Australia
  • Certificate in Project Management – Queensland University of Technology
  • Certificate in Leadership and Communication – Queensland University of Technology
  • Certificate in Entrepreneurship – Queensland University of Technology

Awards/Honours

  • 2016 – Activate Award, HBF
  • 2015 – SeedSpark Award, RAC
  • 2015 – Endowment Challenge Fund, Endeavour Foundation
  • 2008 – Faith Stewart Book Prize in Health Sciences, UWA