It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to one of the great Australian pioneers of natural therapies, Judy Jacka.
Judy was a true inspiration and force in the education of natural therapies, and we remember her life through the words of CMA CEO, Carl Gibson:
“In 1960 Judy graduated from general nurse training at Prince Henry’s Hospital and she was so dissatisfied with the orthodox medicine approach to diseases that she enrolled in the Southern School of Naturopathy attaining a Diploma in 1971. She was later appointed as a lecturer and then Principal of the School.
For over 60 years Judy’s commitment to natural therapies education has been passionate and outstanding.
In the last decade Judy was a true philanthropist, establishing the Jacka Foundation and disbursing over $3 million in funding for research and scholarships. She was also a supporter of NICM Health Research Institute, which recently recognised her by naming the Jacka Foundation Conference Centre at NICM Health Research Institute at the Westmead Medical Precinct.
Judy was awarded the CMA’s Lady Cilento Award in 2017 for her outstanding lifetime achievement.
Today, we sadly say goodbye to a legend in Natural Therapies Education.”
We are enormously grateful to Judy for her profound contribution to the naturopathic profession.