About Yarlalu Thomas
Yarlalu Thomas is an Aboriginal Australian from the Nyangumarta Pitjikarli group. He is from Warralong community, in the Pilbara desert region of Northwest Australia. The first in his community to complete a high-school certificate, he enrolled in a Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (MD) currently in his final year at the University of Western Australia.
Between his bachelor’s degree and MD, Yarlalu was awarded the inaugural Roy Hill Community Foundation Fellowship. His fellowship has enabled him opportunities to experience working at WA Register of Developmental Anomalies, Genetic Services WA and Cliniface, to transform genetic health care services for remote Indigenous people.
Yarlalu has launched the UNESCO-endorsed Lyfe Languages project to translate medical terminology into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, and Indigenous languages internationally. He combines the newest scientific and medical knowledge with old and ancient wisdom.
