Indigenous Health Scholarship Program

Growing up in Roxby Downs showed me how small communities need health care. It was my aspiration that lead me to leave my community and move to boarding school for a better education. My aspiration for after university is to become a rural doctor and work in the remote communities around Australia.

Medicine has been a strong interest of mine since before starting university, however, I was not confident that I was smart enough to study medicine. I have had first-hand experience in hospitals due to my own injuries as well as being present when family members were in hospital with chronic illnesses. The sheer amount of knowledge that doctors had was fascinating to me – though the short falls were easy to see especially with patient communication and conveying empathy towards vulnerable and disadvantaged people. I studied an Arts undergraduate degree straight out of high school, majoring in International Studies and Sociology. I successfully completed the alternate pathway into medicine with Flinders, with encouragement from family, concurrently in the last semester of my undergraduate degree.

I have been interested in undertaking nursing studies for about 17 years. Back in 2001 I commenced a nursing degree, however to my delight, I found out I was pregnant. Unfortunately, I was sick every day during the term of my pregnancy and I was unable to continue. Seventeen years later, I now work in an environment that supports my desire to study nursing and I am very grateful to be finally in a a position to take it up again.

Completing this degree will assist me in gaining a Social Work Degree, which will add immensely to my current knowledge and skills base as a Aboriginal Health Worker in Country Health SA. I have worked in an Aboriginal Health Worker capacity, with a focus on Aboriginal Youth Health and Well-being in Country Health SA for the past 7 years. In this time I have been highly supported by both the Community Health Social Work Team and the Mental health Team. I have worked within a Social Work Model of Care, and have regular supervision from a Social Worker, who has helped me to grow and learn in the Social Work space, adding to my interest in becoming a Social Worker.

As a Ngarrindjeri woman from the lower south east of South Australia, I feel a strong connection to my culture and Aboriginal community. I live in the Riverland and my family and will be commencing my second year of a Bachelor of Nursing studying full time at Flinders University. Last year I completed my first year of the degree, which involved 80 hours of placement in an acute hospital. While on placement I was responsible for: taking patients vital signs, assisting patients personal care, making beds, observing the RN administer medications and would care dressings. I thoroughly enjoyed placement because I was able to meet some great nursing staff as well as, interacting with patients on the ward. This year I am looking forward to doing more placements and performing next level nursing procedures and processes.

Choosing to study medicine was not a decision I made at a young age nor was it made during my high school years. In high school, I rarely entertained the idea of pursuing an education at a university level. During this time, I believed becoming a psychiatrist was an unrealistic aspiration. My parents didn’t complete their high school education and a life-threatening stroke forced my mother into early retirement. I found it difficult to imagine tertiary education as part of my narrative, believing I would take after my parents. Despite these obstacles, I have had the opportunity to study medicine, the first in my family? and if I were to be awarded this scholarship this would assist myself and my family in numerous ways.

My name is Dylan Read, I am a father of two daughters and Medicine has always been a goal to gain entry into and this year I have been lucky enough to receive a first round offer. My interest in Bachelor of Medicine/surgery degree comes from working in a hospital for nearly 3 years while being employed with SA health in administration and speaking to my doctors overtime and understanding the hospital systwm works. I have just transferred from Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree after gaining a high GPA and successfully passing the medical panel interview.

I am a Willman man from Noongar boodja (country). After completing Year 12, I transitioned to completing a full time trainee-ship, part-time studies and casual work all simultaneously. My trainee-ship is with the Aboriginal Programs team at the Port Adelaide Football Club. I am currently studying a Diploma of Business and have also enrolled into a full-time degree (Bachelor of Human Movement/Master of Teaching) in 2020. I have also been working actually at a local gym as a personal trainer.

My dreams since being a young girl has been to care for people. It took years to get there but I am finally studying. My goal is to work at APY lands or in country with those vulnerable people who are scared of the modern hospitals. I would love to help them feel safe and to make sure they are receiving the best care possible.

I have always been passionate about Indigenous Health and had aspirations of pursuing a career as a doctor with a focus on Indigenous health and community outreach. Although this is not my current degree, I still have dreams of using laboratory medicine as a pathway perhaps into post graduated medicine. Laboratory Medicine, so far, has shown to be very rewarding and an interesting degree that holds many career opportunities and I am excited to explore both the pathology and public health sides of the degree.