Indigenous Health Scholarship Program

Warami, my name is Teasha Poblet, I am a proud Dharug woman born on Dharug land in South Western Sydney.   I am currently in my second and final year of Mast Clinical Psychology at the Australian Catholic University.  For the last three years I have worked in Aboriginal identified roles within child protection.   First in a role as early intervention caseworker working alongside Aboriginal families to address the challenges they were facing.  I most recently worked as a Provisional Psychologist providing evidence-based trauma therapies to children in Out of Home Care.

I have been working as a Registered Nurse for a number of years, with my passion developing from the goal of supporting and improving First Nations people’s health.   As a nurse, I have been able to complete work in a number of areas with a passion for supporting and carrying First Nations peoples.   I have particular interest in children, adolescent and family health and have the opportunity to complete my studies to become a child and family health nurse.   I am currently working back on Country and working at an ACCHS, as well as the hospital.

While I am not studying in the physical health field, I am studying in the emotional health, mental health and social health field as a social worker.   Once I have finished my degree I want to be able to build therapeutic relationships with my people. I want to be able to advocate and stand n the void for all Indigenous people and families that feel they are not being heard.

Throughout my past two years of university, I have participated in tutoring Indigenous youth through the Graham Polly Farmer Foundation.    This has kept me connected to helping my community and has taught me a lot about myself.   When I first left for university I had ambitions to pursue a career in physiotherapy and return to Broome to assist in sporting programs for Indigenous youth.

I am a proud Gundijumurra person who has many dreams and aspirations that I want to fulfil.   My background has taught me the importance of self determination, the ability to dream big and that work and commitment will pave the way to opportunities and happiness. I feel proud to be a positive role model to my peers and I am the only Indigenous student at my school to complete Year 12 in 2021.   I have a strong connection to community, which ahs mainly been taught to me by my father who works with Indigenous children in the local area of Echuca.

My passion for medicine has been catalysed by monumental life experiences.   I grasped an understanding of medicine in 2020 when undertaking SAHMRI work experience.   I was enlightened to the multidisciplinary teams in medicine and developed fascination for many specialise.   Completing a Certificate III in Medical Business Administration amplified my love for Medical ethics.   I participated in the volunteer opportunity SONY Camp, where I was responsible for the health of a child.  this taught me the importance of inclusive healthcare, deepening my empathy which I used to support.

I have chosen physiotherapy because I have always had an interest in health, sport and fitness.   As I became older and got more into sport, I started to experience what it is like to have an injury.   Sport has become a passion of mine.   My world literally revolved around proper preparation.  Everything I do, what I eat, training and gym is all for plying football.    Having had injuries, rehabilitation ad recover is knowledge that I want to gain in order to help people manage and recover from their injuries.

I have always thought of doctors and the science of medicine as almost like a super power, and I was so drawn to the concept of healing, comforting and helping others to return to full health, with the ultimate goal of them returning to normal tasks in their daily lives.

It is no secret that the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is significantly lower than non-Indigenous Australians.

By training as an MD, I hope to be able to gain the knowledge and skills to tackle public health issues present in society today, with the treatment and management of diabetes being something I am very passionate about.    As well this, I hope to research the biomechanics behind chronic disorders such as diabetes so that I can aid in improving the management of these conditions.

I have always been interested in the health field.   From a young age I was surrounded by medical professionals.   My parents, aunties, uncles and Ngangkari all worked in Aboriginal Health.  They all worked in my home town of Alice Springs, where they selflessly dedicated themselves to our community members and did the hard work that needed to be done.   This inspired me wot work in the health field, and also give back to my community, just as they did.