INSPIRING OLD GRAMMARIAN

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

*Matthew 25:40

NATHAN GRILLS (1992)

COVID-19 has brought out some of the best in every ‘community’, with people coming together and supporting each other like never before. Nathan Grills is an excellent example of someone who rolls up his sleeves when the world needs leaders.

While Nathan’s ‘heart work’ throughout his medical career has been in India and the main focus of his research work has been in the area of disability inclusion there, his work also includes public health training, research and advocacy and extensive international engagement including various international research collaborations. He is the 2002 Victorian Rhodes Scholar and holds Doctorates of Philosophy and Public Health. He is currently Associate Professor at the Nossal Institute for Global Health at The University of Melbourne, a Senior Research Advisor at the Australia India Institute and works part time as a doctor in Emergency.

Nathan has contributed to the establishment of five non-government organisations, focused on health and development. He leads Enabled HealthCare (www.enabledhc.com), a community development organisation in Northern India which focuses on four key areas: disability support, community health, support for widows, and community education.

Nathan has had articles published, including on the population health implications of COVID-19 and lockdowns within the context of poverty in India. Nathan’s 63rd trip to India looks like being a while off due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Meanwhile, his significant contribution to leadership and service to the neediest in the world continues.

Nathan is married to Claire and they have three children, Jacob, Xavier and Abby who has inspired Nathan in his work with disability. “There is no other person alive who has influenced my life more than my eldest child Abby. She is now nine years old, gorgeous, has a profound physical and intellectual disability, and has taught me so much about myself, faith and life.”

Nathan pictured with his three children.

WE ASKED NATHAN HOW GRAMMAR INSPIRED HIS PATHWAY …

Tell us about one of your greatest memories at Grammar.

Probably my experience on the tall sailing ship, the Alma Doepel, thanks to a scholarship offered by Grammar. I was a quiet farm boy with severe juvenile arthritis and never thought I’d be selected. It was quite transformative. It also was the first step towards my love for the sea and deciding to join the Navy.

What did you learn at Grammar that has influenced you?

A strong sense of service, the importance of teamwork (hockey, musicals, etc.), that hard work is rewarded, and that you can do anything if you set your mind and heart to it. Most of all, the importance of mateship.

Tell us about your most inspiring teacher at Grammar.

Mrs Rucco. Mr Morrison in Year 6. And, especially, Mr Alan Ford. He nurtured my love for Biology and my fascination with the complexity and beauty of not only nature, but also of human life. He also made learning a lot of fun.

What motivates and inspires you?

A love for the ‘least of these’*. I came to the Christian faith while at school which motivated me to study medicine and develop skills to serve the world’s neediest and most disadvantaged, such as India’s 100 million or so people with a disability. This has proved to be a strong life compass.

What has been your proudest career moment?

Working with the Government of India to develop and accredit a disability training program to be rolled out across the country. It equips community-level workers to respond to disability within their own communities which are extremely poor and often isolated with little or no access to services. The President of India profiled the program during a trip to Australia.

Were you at Grammar the day a Navy helicopter landed on the school oval in 1994, and Nathan was hoisted up into the air? Nathan, Emma Dalkin and Brett Nelson were presented with Australian Defence Force Academy Scholarships in front of the whole school. Here, Nathan is pictured being harnessed for ‘lift-off’.