Every year, Keiron Lander packs a swag and goes bush with his mates, camping and fishing around different Aboriginal nations across Queensland.
“It’s my passion. I travel around the different nations, from Burketown to Mount Isa, then I come down to Windorah,” he said. That’s my downtime where I switch off and refresh mentally and spiritually and come back a different person.”
It is some much-needed relaxation time for this busy 37-year-old, who was recently elected the new Chairperson of ATSICHS Brisbane.
He’s also a Board Director at Orange Sky, the Brisbane-based charity that creates connection for those experiencing homelessness through the offering of free mobile laundry service and showers, and the Head of Indigenous Impact at Young Guns, a business that specialises in transforming transient and unskilled workers into engaged professionals in the shipping container industry.
All while raising his three children, Buddy, 11, Jed, 9 and Lula, 7, with his wife Christina; and coaching his children’s rugby league and rugby union teams.
It’s a lot for anyone’s plate, but Keiron takes it in his stride.
“My family, my kids, my wife, my grandmother, my uncles and aunties have supported me in my development and my journey and being able to come to work knowing that I’m using those opportunities to help others — that’s what motivates me.”
A proud Dieri and Mithaka man, Keiron was born in Toowoomba. At 18-months-old, he and his twin sister moved to the southwestern rural town of Quilpie, famous for the ‘Jewel of the Outback’ boulder opal, to live with his grandmother.
A talented sportsman, Keiron received an ABSTUDY scholarship to study at Downlands College, a co-educational, private boarding school in Toowoomba.
“I found school wasn’t for me, but I made it for me. I loved sports, so I knew I could navigate school through sports,” he recalled.
“I had a real passion to play rugby league at the highest level.
“I also wanted to be a role model for my family members and remove doubt that you could go on and complete year 12. It was rare or uncommon for my uncles, aunties or cousins around me to go from a country town and stick it out.”
Following graduation, Keiron moved to Brisbane to play under the Queensland Reds.
“However, I wasn’t really enjoying the rugby environment. I found it difficult as a young person from the bush trying to make a pathway into the Reds,” he said.
“I lasted a few months and signed a contract with the Broncos for two years, playing Colts and reserve grade.”
Keiron spent the next couple years at the Townsville Cowboys. Persistent neck and back injuries and multiple surgeries over the next five years kept his dreams out of reach.
Keiron was tossing up the idea of retirement when an opportunity to play rugby league with the Ipswich Jets came out of the blue in 2010.
In a 2019 interview with Queensland Rugby League, former Ipswich Jets coach Shane Walker recalled his arrival: “When he first arrived at the club, because he was a bit of a larrikin and a man’s man, he didn’t realise the leadership qualities that he had.”
Within a year, he was made captain.
“He thought we were joking because he’d never been a captain at this level, but he always has had great leadership,” Mr Walker said. “Keiron has tremendous respect amongst the playing group and within the club which is really important when you are looking to get a message across.”
Meanwhile, Keiron had started a carpentry apprenticeship, but realised it wasn’t his calling.
“My passion has always been working with my people, and focusing on my people, particularly young people.” Keiron spent almost 12 months in his trade, before he was offered a job on IUIH’s new Heathy Lifestyles (now Deadly Choices) team, under former Chief Executive Officer, Cindy Shannon (now the Chair of Gold Coast HHS).
The Deadly Choices initiative aimed to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy choices for themselves and their families — to stop smoking, eat good food and exercise daily.
Over the 12 years he was with Deadly Choices, he saw the program grow to become one of the most recognised names in the health sector and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at large. At health promotion events, Deadly Choices brand-T shirts have become coveted items. Keiron laughingly recalls the moment Deadly Choices T shirts became a must-have for mob.
“We had these Deadly Choices uniforms made up, using rugby league as a vehicle to have a 715 health check. We were walking around in these Deadly Choices shirts and people were saying can I have it, and we said ‘no, it’s our uniform’,” he said.
“We only had six or so at the time. Adrian Carson, who had come on board as CEO of IUIH, said why don’t we purchase some T-shirts and instead of doing a rewards card, let’s do that as an incentive to get 715 checks?”
Keiron is proud of Deadly Choices’ impact on community’s health, particularly in reducing smoking rates.
He reflected on how smoking was seen as normal when he grew up. “We didn’t understand the dangers until later life,” he said. He now sees the effects in his family, with his grandmother suffering from emphysema due to second-hand smoke.
He highlighted the shift from smoking to vaping, noting that it’s more affordable, better smelling, and better tasting, contributing to its addictiveness. However, he pointed out that the long-term effects are still unknown. “The evidence isn’t there yet for psychological harm or mental harm.”
He added: “In the last 10 years, because of the Deadly Choices tobacco program, we’ve been able to reduce the tobacco rates quite rapidly. There is still a way to go, but there have been improvements.”
He remains grateful for his time at IUIH. “I helped grow the Deadly Choices program and I helped grow my own skillset. I was able to go to university while I was there and complete a Masters of Business Administration (MBA). I was able to use that skillset to help my own people at home and be an active Board member of Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation.”
In 2022, the founder of Young Guns, brothers Trent and Scott Young, approached Keiron with a job offer — leading the Indigenous Impact division of their business. The Youngs created Young Guns Container Crew in 2004 when they saw a need for a quality service packing and unpacking shipping containers. The company hires unskilled workers and provides them with training, confidence and ultimately, empowerment.
“My role is to oversee Indigenous strategies of the business, such as improving pathways to employment, community engagement and cultural education for our frontline leaders,” he said.
“I’m helping more of my people find employment, provide training and improve employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“We’re not focused on those who are ready for a job, we’re focused on those who are not ready — those marginalised individuals who have been forgotten in mainstream training schemes. They’re the ones now finding it difficult to find a job, coupled with complex social barriers such as family circumstances, housing or accessing transport.
“We don’t see everyone for their barriers, only their potential.”
In the time Iron’s been there, Young Guns has developed a training to employment pathway, with a job guarantee at the end. Over 40 young people have participated in the training program, with close to 30 starting employment at Young Guns. Those interested in operating a forklift have received forklift qualifications, becoming valued team members of the crew.
Keiron said the company has been trialling the program at Hymba Yumba, an independent Indigenous school in Springfield.
Around the same time that he joined Young Guns, Keiron joined the Board of Orange Sky as a non-executive director, keen to tap into the skills he picked up from his MBA.
“Orange Sky tapped me on the shoulder to see if I wanted to join the Board — they wanted to build their skill set and experiences,” he said.
“I assessed my own skills experiences — what could I bring to the table and what could I gain from others within? What could I share, what was the mutual benefit?” he said.
“It has been great to work with people with experience from other sectors: we have people with skills in investment, running business and marketing.
“Since I joined the Board, I’ve been helping Orange Sky’s leaders and services improve with regards to how we provide connection, and importantly a place where our people can go without feeling judged and be able to access showers or washing facilities which are essential for good health, and environmental health as well.”
In October, Keiron was appointed the Chairperson of ATSICHS Brisbane, after joining the Board as a director in late 2023. As a
long-term, active patient with ATSICHS Brisbane, it has been a rewarding journey for Keiron.
He said ATSICHS Brisbane’s health centres had a holistic focus that stood them apart from other mainstream health facilities.
“Our health centres are second to none; you can walk in and know everyone in there. Some would say that is not a good thing, but it is the only way to gain trust. It is to build those relationships — we have very thorough processes around protecting privacy.”
As the new Chair, Keiron acknowledged the outgoing Chair Melody Ingra’s leadership, and CEO Renee Blackman, who commenced in 2023. “The leadership is absolutely amazing and highlights the great female leaders in our sector.”
Ms Blackman welcomed his appointment: “The addition of Keiron Lander to the ATSICHS Brisbane Board of Directors brings a brand of humility, authenticity, strength and determination. Keiron embodies those qualities in his role as Chair. His leadership, alongside his fellow directors, marks an exciting start to the next 50 years of ATSICHS Brisbane.”
“My role is to ensure that we maintain our cohesiveness as a Board but do not lose sight of the future we want,” Keiron said.
“Community members will be on that journey every step of the way. My priority is ensuring we stay connected to the communities we service. What do they want?
“We want to build a future where our young people have a roof over their heads, and they are not hanging in the Valley on Friday and Saturday nights.
“We want more of our young people accessing health care, social services or mental health support without having to wait six months.
“We want our old people to go to a place where they can age gracefully and still be socially connected. We want people with disabilities to receive the same comprehensive services without exploitation.
“I would like to use my position to maintain the legacy of our old people and maintaining our culture, and our young people have something to look forward to or work towards — education, playing sports, or being an active community member. They are my goals and aspirations.”
