Coordinator of Master of Public Health, at the Institute of Koorie Education, and academic School of Medicine, Deakin University.

Dr Charles is a very proud Kaurna man for the Adelaide Plains, and father of five children. James has lived at many different places around Australia, including Newcastle NSW while working at the University of Newcastle and Albury while working the Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine program at Charles Sturt University. James was one of the first Aboriginal Podiatrist in Australia, the first Aboriginal person to receive a Master of Podiatry, and first Aboriginal Podiatrist to receive a PhD (Aboriginal foot health).

James has volunteered his time at many Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, boards and committees and was, President of the Indigenous Allied Health Australia 2009 – 2010, and Chairperson of Indigenous Allied Health Australia Network 2008, Vice President Indigenous Allied Health Australia 2011 and was also very proud to be selected to be a representative at the national “Close the Gap” committee in 2008-2009.

Dr Charles has received many awards over the years including the National NAIDOC Scholar of the year award winner in 2017 for his teaching, research and work in the Aboriginal community. He received the 2017 Faculty of Science, PVC Student Learning Student Experience Survey Award for his teaching in Podiatry at Charles Sturt University. In 2014, James received the Golden Microscope Award, from Australian Rotary Health Indigenous Health for his innovative foot and ankle work and his research in Aboriginal foot health. Dr Charles has also received the prestigious Alumni Accolade Award from the University of South Australia in 2018.