Valadian, Margaret (1936-…), an Aboriginal social worker, became Australia’s first Aboriginal woman university graduate in 1966. Valadian was born on Sept. 3, 1936, in Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory. She studied social work at the University of Queensland from 1962 to 1966. She also received a master’s degree in education at the University of Hawaii (also spelled University of Hawai‘i) and a master’s degree in social welfare at New York State University.
Valadian chaired the Aboriginal educational consultative group for the Commonwealth Schools Commission from 1974 to 1976 and set up the National Aboriginal Education Committee. In 1978, she helped to found the Aboriginal Training and Cultural Institute in Sydney. Valadian was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1986, Australia’s highest award for service to the country or to humanity.
