Dr Norman Sheehan has been active in the improvement and understanding of the spiritual, social and emotional wellbeing of the Aboriginal community in Queensland, working with a panel of specialists. Sheehan's PhD titled; 'Indigenous Knowledge and Education' received the Dean's commendation for research excellence, and in 2004, the University of Queensland prize for Comparative Education.

Belonging to the Wiradjuri people, he has taught in Aboriginal communities and higher education in New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland. In 2009, he was awarded the South East Queensland NAIDOC award for the contribution his teaching has made to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community over the years. In 2010 he was Associate Professor in the Faculty of Design at Swinburne University of Technology