I am a proud Kuku Yalanji (North Queensland) man, who was raised in the Torres Strait with a deep appreciation for community and the understanding of leaving home to build skill set, to then return home with equipped with knowledge and skill. I am eternally grateful for the community of Thursday Island who took me under their wing and taught me things greater than what I could ever learn within a classroom, I was surrounded in language, fishing and dance, football, and the cultural intricacies of the islander way. I was raised with constant reminder on the importance of leadership, and the power of individuals and the community. I have seen first hand individuals change the trajectory of socio-economic factors in both their immediate family and the community as a whole, I too now work towards this goal and outcome.

I chose to study health and I believe that this is my calling as an Indigenous leader. I am fully aware of the well-documented health outcomes that the Australian Government continues to bring to light on Indigenous populations. I am blessed to have mustered the courage to complete an Honours degree in Sport Science, and am on the path to completing a Master of Physiotherapy. With both research and clinical skills in health and sport, I am embarking on a holistic approach to help mob within community sport and recreational activity. I currently work with a professional AFL team, which not only provides me with a once in a life-time experience in practicing assessment and treatment skills but has reminded me on the importance of sport in community. I once saw my local football players as the pinnacle human being, the gladiators, the leaders who juggled families, work, cultural commitments and playing great football to bring communities together. I believe having strong community leaders that lead in their areas and throughout their lives, gave myself and those around me a motivation to
strive. I envision returning to community to keep our leaders strong and healthy, and hopefully injury/pain free. In addition, I wish to deliver other educational and health services to improve health outcomes.

With a research hat on, I understand the need for a holistic and accessible framework to guide my practices. The strength of this approach allows myself to be adaptable and service the needs of those in front of me. On a larger spectrum, this could be modeled in other communities and tailored to their needs to close the health gap across Australia. I believe it will require an integration from the public health services, the Aboriginal Health Organisations, community leaders, local councils and Sport and Recreation offices. Whilst I continue to work towards these endeavours, I understand the need to return home to yarn with the correct stakeholders. In order to do that, I must first focus on completing this Masters degree. As an ABSTUDY recipient, the Rotary Scholarship would alleviate financial distress when going on placements throughout the year and assist in the meeting of my ultimate goal, to give back to my community.

Study

In Semester 2, I completed two academic subjects and two student placements in to complete the degree. I completed a placement at Blacktown Hospital in the Respiratory Unit and ICU settings. My final placement was in a private practice in St Mary’s. Due to COVID, I had to sit my last exam in the last week of January. In February 2022, I received official confirmation of degree completion.

In February 2022, I also started a Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Health Promotion, studying full-time in addition to working as a physiotherapist. The degree is taught in 6 blocks, where we are currently wrapping up Block 1.

Employment

I gained full-time employment in January 2022 at Sports Lab, Sydney on a New Graduate program. I currently work in multiple areas of the company, including hospital orthopaedic in-patient, community home-visits, private practice, occupational health, and sport. I am currently receiving mentorship from the clinic’s senior physiotherapists and undertake weekly in-services for continuing education.

I look forward to competing my Indigenous Health Promotion degree whilst gaining full-time experience as a Physiotherapist. I would like to thank Australian Rotary Health and the Rotary Club of Upper Northern Beaches for the on-going support and assisting me financially with my studies.