Outstanding Indigenous Griffith alumnus Clinton Schultzhas received another accolade for his remarkable work in the health industry.

Clinton, who was the 2018 Griffith University Outstanding First Peoples Alumnus Award winner, was named Indigenous Allied Health Professional of the Year at the National Indigenous Allied Health Awards last month.

He was the event’s keynote speaker and talked about the importance of cultural integrity.

“As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have been fortunate enough to gain qualifications and work in the health space, we have a responsibility to ensure we work from a position of cultural integrity,” Clinton said.

“This requires actually going and learning culture and applying it in the work we do, so we are actively participating as members of the oldest ongoing cultures on earth — not just saying it.”

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After studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), Clinton started his own mental health and wellbeing consultancy business, Marumali Consultations.

“I started Marumali Consultations out of frustration of working within other peoples’ boxes,” he said.

“I could see our wellbeing needed to be attended to differently and that there was limited room or respect for lore and culture in the way the majority of organisations were approaching social and emotional wellbeing work with our mob.”

Alongside Marumali Consultations, Clinton also developed a non-alcoholic craft beer, Sobah, which he said is “unashamedly smashing stereotypes” while the business helps support healing work.

“I truly believe Aboriginal enterprise is a process of self-determination,” he said.

“It frees us from having to work to the confines of western constructs and allows us the space to work in ways that are conducive to our ways of knowing and being.”

Clinton said he was “humbled” to be recognised as the Allied Health Professional of the Year, which is awarded to an Indigenous Allied Heath Australia full member graduate who has worked in the relevant field for at least five years.

It recognises the recipient’s commitment, dedication and contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and/or communities within their profession.