I am a proud Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan man from Cobar, NSW. I grew up in the regional town of Toowoomba and have always had strong connection to Indigenous and rural health care, through the Carbal Medical Centre. I particularly gained an understanding of the rural environment through my school, which had an emphasis on boarding students from isolated rural communities, many of whom were my friends.

As a child, I frequently spend time in the health care system and, as I grew older, I became more aware and intrigued with the individualised and patient centred care I received. Whilst young at the the time, these qualities have resonated and developed with me as I have grown up. Now that I have more experience and understanding of how health care systems function and how patient care can be provided, I am excited to be on my own path of providing positive contributions to health care, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities.

My progression through JCU’s MBBS program has allowed my knowledge and understanding of Indigenous health to grow substantially. Subjects such as Ecology of Health and Rural, Remote, Indigenous and Tropical Health has highlighted the disparity and issues that Indigenous communities face. Some of these issues include, access to healthcare, trust issues and cultural safety. I am also aware of current initiatives such as the Closing the Gap targets. As a future qualified Indigenous Medical Practitioner, I believe I can assist in addressing this disparity and close the gap through advocacy and providing culturally sensitive, high-quality healthcare to all my patients.

Whilst my goal and commitments are future based, I have already commenced to make a difference through various community and Indigenous involvements. I thoroughly enjoyed my placements at Carbal Medical Centre in Toowoomba and the Atherton Hospital where I immersed myself in the community and learned from my montors.

After an enjoyable summer break at home with my family, I commenced my 5^th year studying Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery at James Cook University. This was also the beginning of a new chapter for me as I relocated from the Townville University campus to the Mackay campus to continue my studies. I am enjoying the new challenges and experiences associated with this transition. Additionally, I continue to enjoy all aspects of the course, particularly the more hands-on approach and clinical placement exposure.

During this first semester of 5^th year, I once again commenced my clinical placements. I have rotated through several different specialities including General Practice, Mental Health, General Surgery and General Medicine. With 6 weeks allocated per rotation, each speciality has allowed me to develop and practice already existing skills such as history taking, physical examinations and clinical skills. I also learnt new skills such as skin excisions, advanced suturing techniques, mental state examinations, consenting patients for surgical procedures and performing an arterial blood gas.

I have also made the most of moving to Mackay by reconnecting with old friends and making new friends. I continue to maintain a well-balanced lifestyle by playing cricket, going to the gym and going on runs/walks with my friends. This has allowed me to relax and refresh my mind away from studying and placement.

There were once again no mid-year examinations which allowed me to focus more on these extra-curricular activities. However, we have our last ever set of medicine examinations at the end of this year. While these exams will be challenging, I have maintained my study throughout this semester and have applied myself while on placement so that I stay on top of the content and am prepared for these exams.

I am looking forward to the next semester as I will finish my placement on Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics. I will also continue to study in preparation for my final ever medicine examinations.