My name is Shi-Anne Wallace, I am the second eldest of four children and grew up in the Tablelands community of Atherton in Far North Queensland. I am of Aboriginal, Mamu descent via my father.

Being the first in my family to finish High School, I graduated in 2021. I then began studying the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) degree at James Cook University – Cairn’s campus at the beginning of 2022. I am now in my third year of my degree and expect to graduate at the end of 2025.

I had the opportunity to attend conferences across Australia including the Indigenous Allied Health Association (IAHA) 2022 & 2023 Conferences. I was also invited to participate in the 2023 IAHA Ultimate Student Leadership Challenge. This involved a complex case study where I learnt more about Indigenous health and the multidisciplinary, individualised, and cultural approach required to provide best practice to our mob. On top of university commitments, I am a James Cook University Ambassador, I work in our future students and marketing team, our outreach team and for our Indigenous Education and Research Centre.

My beliefs, values and experiences position me to make a substantial difference to Indigenous health now, and for future generations as a qualified health professional.

My grandmother is my role model and inspiration. She has demonstrated great strength to overcome challenges she has faced. She has been a major contributor to my growth and assisted in building me into a confident, strong, and independent young woman. I am focused with a strong vision for my future; to improve statistics for Indigenous Australians health outcomes.

I know that studying Pharmacy at James Cook University (JCU) will continue to teach me all the necessary skills I need to make a difference to Indigenous communities. The experiences from my grandparents’ past have helped shape my future, guiding me to make a difference for all our mob.

My involvement with organisations around Australia and participation in events has helped me gain confidence and knowledge about Indigenous health and the multidisciplinary, individualised and cultural approach required to provide best practice to our mob.    Being an ambassador at JCU has opened many doors and opportunities that have allowed me to connect with younger students, helping to inspire and motivate them to attend tertiary education. This has contributed to my professional practice, making me a better health care professional for our families.

It’s through my beliefs, values and experiences that I will not only be a trusted health professional, but I will be a trusted Indigenous woman. I will be a trained health professional, with a high level of understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, this will give me the opportunity to build deeper relationships with all members of the community. This will support me to contribute to improving Indigenous health by encouraging our mob to access healthcare and increase compliance to modern therapies and medicines.

The first semester of 2025 has been an incredible and rewarding experience. I was fortunate to participate in a number of opportunities, including travelling to Duluth, Minnesota, USA, for the inaugural International Indigenous Pharmacist Gathering. There, I joined Professor Faye McMillan (Australia’s first Indigenous pharmacist), Māori pharmacists and students, and First Nations pharmacists from the United States. This gathering provided an invaluable platform to discuss the integration of Indigenous health within pharmacy curricula, reflect on progress made, and identify areas for future improvement. During this event, I was also invited to deliver a 10-minute presentation on my work within the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) to improve Indigenous health.

In my role as NAPSA Indigenous Chair, I also had the privilege of organising and facilitating the first-ever National Indigenous Pharmacy Student Leadership Summit in Melbourne. This two-day leadership program supported 24 students from across Australia to participate, network, and strengthen their leadership capacity. Shortly after, I was honoured to be invited to present at a Cairns Rotary Club meeting, where I shared reflections on my journey over the past 18 months and highlighted the impact of this scholarship in enabling my growth and contribution.

Following these opportunities, I completed six weeks of placement: three weeks on Thursday Island and three weeks in Atherton. Both placements were eye-opening, offering insight into the unique ways pharmacies adapt to serve communities depending on location and demographics. During this period, I was unable to work, and the financial support from this scholarship was vital in helping me meet living expenses and remain focused on my studies and learning experiences.

With heartfelt gratitude, I thank you for your ongoing support. I look forward to connecting with you again at the end of 2025 to share further reflections and positive experiences as I complete the final stages of my degree.