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 2 week winter break at home with my family, I commenced semester 2 of 5^th year, studying Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery at James Cook University. I continue to enjoy all aspects of the course, particularly the more hands-on approach and clinical placement exposure.

During this semester, I once again commenced my clinical placements, while also preparing for my final set of medical examinations. I have rotated through Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynacology which I enjoyed. With 6 weeks allocated per rotation, both specialities allowed me to develop and practice already existing skills such as history taking, physical examinations and clinical skills. Some of the highlights were getting to assist in delivering a baby and also scrubbing in and assisting with cesarian sections. Additionally, I learnt new skills, such as paediatric examinations, growth charts and detecting foetal heart sounds.

Since moving to Mackay at the beginning of 2024, I have made the most of moving 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.

As my final set of exams approached, I focussed entirely on studying, which proved to be an incredibly stressful period. However, with the support of my friends and family, I was able to excel and successfully pass my examinations.

I look forward to Semester 1 of 2025, as it marks the beginning of my final year of studying Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, before graduating at the end of the year. With no examinations this year, I am excited to fully immerse myself in my placements to thoroughly prepare for my internship in 2026. These placements include rotations in Emergency Medicine, General Practice, Anaesthetics, Respiratory Medicine, Cardiology, and Orthopaedics, during which I will travel between Mackay, Toowoomba, and Charters Towers.