Indigenous Health Scholarship Program

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.

My name is Logan Walsh, and I am a proud Kamilaroi man, who grew up in Roma on the traditional lands of the Mandandanji people in Southwest Queensland. I graduated from St Johns School in 2022 which is where I spent my whole primary and secondary school years – from Prep right through to year 12. In 2023 I moved to Brisbane to begin my university journey at ACU and started studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Currently I am in my second year of university and am really enjoying my degree.

My name is Shi-Anne Wallace, I am the second eldest of four children and grew up in the Tablelands community of Atherton in Far North Queensland. I am of Aboriginal, Mamu descent via my father.

Being the first in my family to finish High School, I graduated in 2021. I then began studying the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) degree at James Cook University – Cairn’s campus at the beginning of 2022. I am now in my third year of my degree and expect to graduate at the end of 2025.

Charlie Hazelton, a proud Wiradjuri Kalari Man, is a passionate advocate for Indigenous youth empowerment and health education. Currently completing a Bachelor of Health Science at Griffith University, Charlie aspires to continue his journey into the Doctor of Medicine Program, combining his cultural heritage with his academic pursuits.

Miah is a proud Wirjradi woman driven by her passion for medical equality and equity. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing with provisional entry to the Doctor of Medicine program at the University of Queensland. Miah is an advocate for Indigenous health, conscious of the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and the lack of common healthcare in rural communities. She was exceptional in secondary schooling, graduating from Toowoomba Anglican School with an exceptional ATAR and numerous academic and leadership awards.

My name is Bradley Smith, I am a Wiradjuri and Gomeroi man. I have a background in Paramedic Science and I am currently in my second year as a Doctor of Medicine student at the University of Queensland. My goal is to specialise in General Practice and work as a General Practitioner in a community-controlled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clinic.

My name is Jessica Storrar and I am a proud Yuin woman of the Central Coast of New South Wales. I am currently in my sixth and final year of my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at James Cook University (JCU). Throughout my time at JCU I have been actively involved in advocating for my Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peers in both an academic and healthcare setting.

On completing my degree in Bachelor of Psychological Science, I will be in a better position to make a positive contribution to the Indigenous community as a qualified professional, but also being a professional recognised and accredited health professional. As a qualified Indigenous Psychologist, I can make unique contribution in that being an Aboriginal person, I am able to understand the same issues from an Indigenous perspective to be able to work in a culturally appropriate and sensitive manner and have the ability to deal with complex Indigenous health related issues.

Coming from a largely populated region of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic health conditions and a 10-year gap of life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. I have always been passionate about working in the health field and found that nursing was for me. I have experienced this firsthand wit my immediate family members suffering from diabetes, obesity, heart and lung disease just to name a few. I believe being a nurse will fulfill my career and life goals by helping make a difference within my community – Torres Strait Islanders. A nurse’s beliefs and values should be focused on being honest by showing integrity, being compassionate and being empathetic just to name a few that I think are crucial in nursing care. Being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander growing up on Thursday Island in the Torres Straits has played a very important part in my life and will play a big part in my nursing career.