Indigenous Health Scholarship Program

My people are Galari clan, on Wiradjuri Country. I grew up in Condobolin, NSW, and my father, a white stockman/shearer has a small hobby farm on the Garli Bila (the Lachlan River), my mother is a TAFE teacher of Aboriginal Studies. I have two brothers; I am the middle child and grew up very typically for any other country kid, playing netball, pony club, and cricket. It is through growing up in a small rural town that I witnessed first-hand the unjust realities of what it is like to grow up in the bush.

I am Alison Hammond, a final year Oral Health Therapy student and proud Gunaikurnai woman. I was lucky enough to grow up in the East Gippsland region in regional Victoria, and live most of my life there, including completing my high school education and working in the area for many years. After over 3 years working as a dental assistant, I decided I was ready to upskill in the dental field and become an Oral Health Therapist. This involved quitting my job and leaving my family to make the move to Bendigo to attend La Trobe University.

My name is Ashton Embry. I was born in Busselton, WA on Wardandi Noongar Boodja.  I grew up by the ocean and lived in a supportive environment that encouraged me to pursue my aspirations and always advocate for what I believe is right.

My name is Louise and I’m a proud Arrernte woman in my final year of the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine degree at Monash University. I’m passionate about Indigenous health and addressing the ongoing health inequities faced by our communities.

During my studies, I have been actively involved in Indigenous health advocacy through leadership roles within Monash University’s Indigenous and rural health committee, WILDFIRE, first as the Indigenous Representative for two years, before becoming the Indigenous Chair for another two years.

My name is Hayley and I am a proud Kamilaroi and Mandandanji woman studying Physiotherapy at the Australian Catholic University. I have grown up in Toowoomba, finishing high school at St Saviour’s College, before relocating to Brisbane in 2021 to be able to complete my degree.

I am a proud Aboriginal man with my ancestors originating on Ngengi Wumirri land on the Daly River in the Northern Territory. I was lucky enough to grow up in Darwin where we’d spend most of our weekends goose shooting the swamps or up the Daly river chasing that big meter barramundi. I competed in many sports such as AFL, touch, rugby union, rugby league and athletics. This is where my love for sport began. With this love for sport I began studying sports and exercise science at JCU in Townsville. Mid-course I transferred to USC on the sunshine coast where I completed the degree.

I was raised in south Gippsland, Victoria, however my family originates from Lunawanna-Alonnah country in Tasmania. I have a deep-rooted passion for occupational therapy that derives from personal experience with an occupational therapist as a teenager, along with a love for helping people.

My name is Tahlia, and I am a proud Gumbayngirr woman of Ngerrie land (South Grafton, NSW). I am currently studying Pharmacy, where I am excited about providing impactful healthcare on the front line to my community. After studies, I plan on relocating back to my homelands to assist the rural and regional healthcare professional shortages, and to lead my community to a positive, inclusive future.

Beyond my studies, I am a representative netball player of Grafton Netball Association and SCALA Netball, as well as a C badged umpire. I love to visit my family and friends back at home when I can, and I enjoy playing the guitar and piano.

I am Myles McKenzie, a proud Barundji Aboriginal man of the Paroo river, raised in Townsville, North Queensland. Having grown up in regional North Queensland, I became cognizant of the complex health disparities faced in Northern Australia, including the elevated prevalence of untreated mental illness within Aboriginal communities and inaccessibility to culturally sensitive health services. The implications of these health disparities became especially evident during my secondary education, where I learnt that suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, affecting Aboriginal children as young as nine years of age.

I am a proud Turrbal woman and a determined first year Doctor of Medicine student at Flinders University who aims to provide evidence-based and holistic care. I have a strong interest in cardiovascular health and Rhematic heart fever. I am committed to improving indigenous health and wellbeing through all stages of life. While working in a rural hospital I discovered I was most passionate working in and interreacting with patients and clinical education on Rhematic Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Disease. After working in the hospital this had sparked my interest to study medicine. I have always been intrigued by anatomy and physiology of how the body works; this one massive machine running off different systems.