Wayne Williams

Wayne Williams is the Coordinator of Indigenous Health Education at the University of Queensland Rural Clinical School, located in Toowoomba and part of the Medical School within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. A proud Wakka Wakka man with family and community connections in the South Burnett and Darling Downs regions of Queensland, Williams serves as the academic lead for Indigenous Health Education. His work focuses on incorporating First Nations perspectives, worldviews, ways of knowing, and evaluative frameworks into health research and medical curricula. He promotes the embedding of First Nations knowledge as a core component of higher education and builds constructive relationships between First Nations communities and the medical profession. Williams contributes as course staff to several programs, including Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health (INDH1005), Indigenous Health (INDH7002), Rural and Remote Medicine (MEDI7315), and Rural Health Practice (MEDI7400), where he acts as Elder and Principal Specialty Supervisor for Indigenous Health education. He participates in MD student orientation and Year 4 Town Hall events.

Williams engages in research addressing health challenges in First Nations populations, particularly sleep health. He is a team member on the NHMRC MRFF-funded project (2024-2025) titled 'Untapping the potential of sleep health to improve prevention and management of mental health problems in First Nations Children.' Additionally, he serves as Associate Advisor for a Doctor of Philosophy thesis examining the 'Impact of Sleep health on physical and social emotional wellbeing/mental health of First Nations adolescents.' In 2025, he co-authored the article 'Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis and management in First Nations Australians' published in Sleep Advances, contributing to methodology and writing-review. His expertise encompasses teaching and learning, pedagogy and education, curriculum development, teaching materials, educational evaluation, student development, lifelong learning, problem solving, and culture, politics, and education. Williams has presented on topics such as First Nations Health and Traditional Knowledge and developing Indigenous health curricula at events like LIME Connection conferences. He is available for media enquiries and higher degree supervision.

Professional Email: w.williams@uq.edu.au