Background
He was born in Darwin on 12 August 1958.
He was born in Darwin on 12 August 1958.
Former Top End Hospital Network Governing Council Member, 2012-2013
Chief Executive Officer, Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) State Manager, Victoria
ATSIC State Manager, South Australia
ATSIC Regional Manager, Broome, Western Australia
Department of Indigenous Affairs, Regional Manager, Murchison/Gascoyne, Western Australia
Senior Advisor, Northern Territory Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
(Acting) Director of NAALAS (North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service)
ATSIC Commissioner, Northern Territory (North Zone)
Council Liaison Officer, Northern Land Council
Since June 2006, John Paterson has been the Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT). He is currently Chairperson for NACCHO eHEG (eHealth Expert Group) that advises government on national eHealth issues pertaining to the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector. Given his passion and love for Australian Rules Football, he was elected President of the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club two years ago.
John has represented ATSIC at the United Nations Working Group of Indigenous Populations in Geneva, and at Indigenous economic conferences in Canada.
In 1992 he graduated from Edith Cowan University with a Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) and has completed leadership courses with the Australian Rural Leadership Program. John played 213 games of American Federation of Labor-Congress for the Darwin Football Club (the mighty ‘Buffaloes’) and captained their NTFL Premiership team in 1980.
John is also frequently discussing Aboriginal affairs with his friends and contacts, and spending time encouraging young people to excel in their studies and their work. He believes the mentoring and coaching of young people is central to the development of Aboriginal people and their communities.
John is also a member of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum. He was twice selected for the Northwest Territories News "Team of the Year" and is a Life Member of the NTFL and the Darwin Football Club.