Mel was born in Derby and spent her early childhood on the Gibb River Road, her grandmother (Laura) was a part of the stolen generation taken from Lamboo station near Halls Creek to Beagle Bay mission. Laura then went to Broome to be a domestic servant under the WA Aborigines Protection Act (1905) and met Mel’s grandfather Frederick Russ snr (non-Aboriginal) and Laura then moved to Gibb River Station (now known as Nallagunda), Laura and Frederick had 9 children and Laura died at 52 from Rheumatic Heart Disease. Laura needed a mitral valve repair and was unable to access surgery due to being Aboriginal. Mel trained as a registered nurse and practiced from 1994-2008 when Mel moved in more policy and leadership roles. Mel is a mentor for many through Mel’s role as Director Aboriginal Health at Child and Adolescent Health Service (which includes Perth Children’s Hospital, Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Child and Adolescent Community Health). Mel is a mother, a researcher, a mentor and an Aboriginal leader.
