Editor’s note: This article includes a brief mention of childhood sexual assault.
Dr. Gemma Carey, an Australian academic, author, Long COVID advocate, and disability rights activist from Canberra, passed away on November 24, 2024, at the age of 43. Her work in public health, disability rights, and social justice had a profound impact on the communities she served, particularly those marginalized by conventional healthcare systems.
Carey served as Director of the Centre for Social Impact at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), a leader in public health and policy research. She dedicated her career to addressing inequities in healthcare and social support systems.
“Gemma was a gifted writer, generous and courageous, and a fearless advocate for victim-survivors and people with disabilities,” literary agent Sarah McKenzie wrote on social media in November.
Carey’s research focused on marginalized communities, particularly those living with chronic illness and disabilities, and aimed to dismantle the structural barriers that hinder access to adequate care. She authored four books and over 100 scientific journal articles, which explored the social determinants of health, flaws in Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and the urgent need for a more inclusive healthcare system.
Tanya Corrie, Carey’s colleague at the social policy platform The Power To Persuade, wrote in a tribute that [Carey] “always understood that the voices of those who had lived through the hardship of policies needed to be at the table. She created spaces for these voices to be heard, ensuring that they weren’t just included, but central to the conversation.”
Carey brought these vital conversations to broader audiences through her guest appearances on radio shows and podcasts. She shared her expertise on public health, disability rights, and the challenges of navigating healthcare systems. She advocated for masking and social distancing measures to protect vulnerable populations early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, after developing a vaccine injury from a COVID-19 vaccine (Carey stated she had vaccine-induced Long COVID), she became a vocal critic of Australia’s vaccine injury claims process, which she said were overly complex and difficult to navigate. Her personal experience reinforced her calls for reform, urging that individuals with vaccine injuries receive the recognition and care they deserve. Her efforts played a pivotal role in shifting public discourse on vaccine injury in Australia and globally.
Carey’s contributions to public health and leadership earned widespread recognition, including awards from the Australian Institute for Policy & Science and the Public Health Association of Australia. Her positions on editorial boards, such as the Australian Journal of Public Administration and the Health Promotion Journal of Australia, underscored her respected position within the academic and policy communities.
Carey was also an outspoken advocate for amplifying the voices of trauma survivors. Her memoir, No Matter Our Wreckage, chronicled her experience with childhood sexual assault and her experience with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. She openly shared her story to encourage others to do the same, advocating for the inclusion of survivor narratives in policy reform and healthcare decision-making.
Her work and legacy in these fields led many to express their gratitude tributes to Carey over the past month. Journalist Emily Johnson shared a quote of Carey’s and wrote on Twitter/X, “Thank you for being a big part of the blanket for abuse survivors and disabled people.”
After a leave of absence from UNSW to focus on her health needs, Carey returned in September 2024. Her contributions toward a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system are celebrated, and her legacy of unwavering commitment to justice and equity in public health endures. She is survived by her husband, young son, and the many lives her work touched.
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