Standing for what matters

Back home in Australia, she worked in juvenile justice where the disproportionate number of Aboriginal girls in the system left a lasting impact on Midge – leading to a professional path defined by deep involvement with Indigenous communities and structural injustice.

From 1979 to 1985, Midge worked in Darwin as a social worker with the Northern Territory government and Aboriginal communities where she built relationships, listened deeply, and supported voices that often went unheard.

Later returning to South Australia, she took on roles across equal opportunity, disability services, and public housing.

An experienced diver, Midge was passionate about the environment and participated in a number of marine environment research projects and worked with Greenpeace in the mid-1990s.

In 2008, Midge moved to Gail’s homeland of the Isle of Man where she maintained her approach to a life of making a difference.

“She established the Island’s first Children’s Champion, transformed practice in the social work service for older people, and trained as a pilates instructor to keep people stronger later in life,” says Gail.

“It was never about the headline or recognition for Midge. She cared deeply about others and whether it be a fitness class, a protest, or major systemic change; in a professional role, as a volunteer, or in passing another in the street – it was always about building and empowering others.”

In 2021, Midge sadly passed away as the result of ovarian cancer. She died as she lived, with care, courage, and concern for others and wanting to make a difference.

“Her wishes were to donate $200,000 to create the Midge Dunn ‘Living Strong’ Bursary at Flinders University, to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in financial need,” says Gail.

“During her lifetime Midge witnessed the structural, social and economic barriers experienced by First Nations people, but she knew the power of education as a tool for self-determination and justice.”

Flinders University is grateful to Midge Dunn for her bequest that serves as an extension of her life’s work and will honour her incredible legacy of social justice. 

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^{Published June 2025. Author: Lynda Allen.}