Bringing community herbalism to those in need

Imagine a future where natural healthcare is affordable to all. Kerrie Oakes is a PhD student researcher at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine and a passionate leader dedicated to transforming lives through community-managed herbalism. With your support, she can continue her vital research  on how vulnerable communities can be better supported through community-led herbal clinics and cooperative health initiatives. 

Kerrie Oakes

Kerrie’s voluntary work has already made a positive difference. She helped to establish the Southeast Queensland chapter of the international Herbalists Without Borders network, providing herbal medicine support to homeless services, refugees, and disaster-affected individuals. She has also established the Somerset Health Hub Community Cooperative; a community organisation focused on collaboratively improving community health. 

Kerrie’s leadership has inspired others to step up and serve, creating a ripple effect of kindness and resilience. Whether it’s organising herbal product-making sessions, collecting donations, or mobilising herbalists to respond to emergencies, her work has been essential in making these initiatives possible. 

“Working with community is hard work and can be challenging...but it's also fun, rewarding, and exciting! There is little else I would prefer to be doing - unless it is sitting under a tree, watching the seasons change.” 

Community-supported herbalism and cooperative models of healthcare

With the support of donor funding, PhD candidate Kerrie Oakes has taken her research beyond the classroom and into communities around the world—travelling nearly 58,000 kilometres across four countries to explore how herbal medicine is delivered through community-led care. Through in-depth interviews, clinic visits, and immersive fieldwork, Kerrie has documented innovative models where traditional knowledge and modern practice work hand in hand—from village health systems in India to mobile herbal clinics in the United States.

Her research is now shaping a new understanding of Community Managed Herbal Medicine in Australia—one that centres accessibility, shared knowledge, and evidence-informed care. By capturing these global insights, Kerrie is helping to build a more inclusive, community-driven approach to primary healthcare. 

Your support makes this work possible, turning global discovery into real-world impact for Australian communities.

Join us in continuing this impact. Donate today to support Kerrie’s research and the communities she serves.

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