Dr Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia, but was born and educated in Perth. Australia’s first Indigenous doctor, Helen studied medicine at the University of Western Australia and is currently Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UWA, Honorary Research Fellow at Telethon Kids Institute,

Her work and research interests include holistic medicine, child mental health, recovery from trauma and grief, application of indigenous knowledge, Aboriginal health and mental health, and developing and supporting the Aboriginal medical workforce. Professor Milroy has been on state and national mental health advisory committees and boards with a focus on the wellbeing of children.

She is currently a commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission and has also recently been appointed as the AFL's first Indigenous commissioner.

Professor Milroy is the WA 2021 Australian of the Year and was joint winner of the 2020 Australian Mental Health Prize. Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories is her first book for children.


What colourful birds are in our backyards?

From laughing kookaburras and prancing mudlarks to dancing willy wagtails and hungry galahs, this picture book is a vibrant adventure discovering the native birds around us.


From beautiful butterflies to kaleidoscopic Christmas beetles, First Nations author and illustrator Helen Milroy returns to the backyard with a picture book designed to teach kids (and their handlers) all about the scurrying, scuttling, scooting, buzzing, zooming splendour of insects.


From the author of Backyard Birds and Backayrd Bugs, Helen Milroy's latest picture book shows us the wonderful warm blooded, cold blooded, feathered and clawed creatures we might finding living with us in a typical Australian home.

Once again First Nations author and illustrator Helen Milroy brings the backyard to life in a picture book designed to teach us all about the croaking, barking, screeching, mewling creatures that share our homes. From beastie besties, like the Pomeranian and the pussycat, to clucking chickens and licking lizards, the jewel-like illustrations will make this book a joy to share.


Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories by Helen Milroy

From a falling star to a lonely whale, an entertaining lizard to an enterprising penguin, these Indigenous stories are full of wonder, adventure and enduring friendships. Told in the style of traditional teaching stories, these animal tales take young readers on adventures of self-discovery and fulfillment.


Willy-willy Wagtail Tales from the Bush Mob by Helen Milroy

Tales from the Bush Mob is a series of books about the Bush Mob, a group of animals that works together to solve problems. A rich landscape of characters and places populate this series and include Platypus, Koala, Emu, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna, Kangaroo and Gusto, the wind. Places include Willy Wagtail’s Tree, Dingo’s Den, Old Billabong, Bird Meeting Place, Cockatoo’s Nesting Trees, Top Camp and Emu Race Track.

Willy-willy Wagtail is the first book in the series and goes back to before Bush Mob get together and nobody understands each other — and there are lots of fights. One day there is a terrible bush fire and Willy Wagtail, Gusto (the wind) and Crow get all the Bush Mob to work together to save the community. For the first time, everyone understands each other and Dingo takes charge and leads all the animals to safety. Dingo is now Boss Dog and is head of the Bush Council, with Willy Wagtail and Crow — the Bush Mob is formed. The next two titles are The Emu Who Ran through the Sky (July 2020) and The Sweetest Egg of All (October 2020.


The Sweetest Egg of All: Tales From the Bush Mob By Helen Milroy

Gecko, Thorny Devil and Scrubby Python admire Bungarra and hatch a plan to surprise him with this very special birthday gift ... but their plan goes horribly wrong.

Tales from the Bush Mob is a series of books about the Bush Mob, a group of animals who work together to solve problems. Each book shares a rich landscape of characters and places, including Lofty the emu, Willy-willy Wagtail, Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna, Kangaroo. These stories emphasise the value of respect for First Nations culture and country, as well as the importance of courage, perseverance and wisdom to bind communities together.

The Sweetest Egg of All is the third book in the series, and follows Gecko, Thorny Devil and Scrubby Python, who admire Bungarra and want to find a special birthday present for their friend. When they hear from King George Brown (KGB) that Willy-Wagtail's egg is the sweetest egg of all, they hatch a plan to steal an egg for Bungarra's birthday. But KGB and King Toad have different plans for the sweetest egg of all and now Dingo and the Bush Mob go into action to save Willy Wagtail's egg.

Filled with gorgeous illustrations and exciting tales, this will be a popular book for the whole family.


The Emu Who Ran Through the Sky by Helen Milroy

The emus couldn't fly, but did they sit around looking sad? No! They made sure everyone knew just how fast they could run. Except for poor Lofty...

Lofty, a young emu desperately wants to win a big emu race, but he is slow and clumsy - and his first race ends in disaster! But, Lofty realises there is another way to win the race.

He enlists the help of his Bush Mob friends Eagle, Sugar Glider and Bat - who are all excellent fliers - to teach him to fly. But it is Bush Mob's inventor, Platypus, who designs the Feathery Paraglider that allows Lofty to win the day!

Tales from the Bush Mob is a series of books about the Bush Mob, a group of animals who work together to solve problems. The first in the series Willy-willy Wagtail, introduced Willy Wagtail and Gusto the Wind, who save the animals from a bushfire.

Each book shares a rich landscape of characters and places, including Lofty the emu, Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna, Kangaroo. These stories emphasise the value of respect for First Nations culture and country, as well as the importance of courage, perseverance and wisdom to bind communities together. The Emu Who Ran Through the Sky& is the second book in the series.


Owl and Star by Helen Milroy

Owl loved the sparkle of the stars. He would sit out on his tree at dusk and wait for them to appear.

One evening, Owl became worried. His favourite little star had not shown herself. Owl searched far and wide. Where could Little Star be?

From the author of the Backyard series, Helen Milroy's latest picture book invites readers to realise the magic of the stars.


Bush Mob Counting Tales From the Bush Mob by Helen Milroy

The characters in Bush Mob Counting are from the âTales from the Bush Mobâ Series of books about a group of animals Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna and Kangaroo, who work together to solve problems. Each book shares a rich landscape of colours, characters and places. Bush Mob Counting is a fun and colourful way for young children to learn how to count to 10. Milroyâs famous animal characters are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.