Past Indigenous Health Scholarships Program

As a qualified Registered Nurse, I plan to contribute to improve Indigenous health outcomes play an important role in teaching patients education and providing health to the community through culturally appropriate care that is high quality, safe, patient centered and accessible in a range of settings.

I was born and grew up in South Western Sydney (Dharawal country). I am of Wiradjuri descent on my mother’s side and Finnish on my father’s. My Aboriginal roots go back to Bulgandramine Mission near Peak Hill in central New South Wales. The family has actually been fortunate enough to trace our ancestry back to James Nerang, who was a tracker for NSW Police at the turn of the 19th –20th century. His daughter, Sarah Waterloo, was my great great grandmother. I am grateful to be studying at university so that once I have graduated I can advocate for and the improve representation of Indigenous issues in the Australian health system.

My interest in Speech Pathology is rooted in my family history….

During my 12 month bridging course, I sought out volunteer work at a local public school and day care, when I assisted a speech pathologist. Both facilities were in low socio-economic areas and had a high attending of bother Indigenous and underprivileged young children, some with very cad circumstances. I loved helping them and seeing what a high difference just one person who cares can make to their self confidence, trust and ultimately their entire future.

I have worked as an Aboriginal Health practitioner for almost 3 years and developed a deep passion for supporting my community. I have enrolled into a Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in Health promotion as I would like to further my education enabling me to apply for positions of leadership or management.

I aspire to complete the Bachelor of Medicine Surgery and specialise to become a qualified General Practitioner. I hope to move to rural and remote communities to offer health care services where they are lacking help for rural Indigenous and non Indigenous community. Coming from a rural area myself I have a deep understanding of the difficulties faced by the lack of health care in these areas and hope to assist with this issue.

When I first began my nursing studies at Deakin University, I was determined to work full time, study full time and continue my role as a wife and mum thinking I was capable of doing everything, however, this impacted on my last trimester which I failed. This impacted my self esteem and my ability to be able to get back on track. After receiving help from Deakins course counsellors I have been able to re-focus on my situation and get back on track. In order to do this, I have sacrificed my financial comfort and given up work to take on full time study to ensure I am able to fully focus on my career goals. My education is a priority and one I have taken seriously which will also now impact on my limited finances. I believe in all my heart nursing is my purpose and any sacrifice I need to make will be worth it.

As someone who has worked in aged care for almost 6 years, I have a passion to help people be the best version of themselves and to just assist even in the smallest way to make a difference. Although I love my job, I have always felt that I could do more. I have decided to pursue a career where I can assist people further.

My name is Haley Pickering and I have just completed my first year as a nursing student at the University of SA. I am a strong Bardi woman and my family comes from Western Australia. Nursing is a rewarding, exciting, challenging and diverse profession that could take me anywhere. I believe that I am a caring person by nature and from a very young age have always loved helping people. I feel as if nursing is my ideal career that will be perfectly suited to me. This degree supports my future aspirations as I aspire to take my knowledge and work in Aboriginal communities. I would love to be able to provide better health services to Aboriginal people through the delivery of culturally safe and competent nursing and even midwifery services.

My name is Selena (Nina) Hartman and I am a proud Ngarrindjeri woman from the Coorong and Lakes. I currenty work as an Enrolled Nurse and as a AMIC Practitioner through the Murray Bridge Hospital (part time). While doing these roles I have realised my passion is with midwifery. I enjoy antenatal, postnatal care and supporting in deliveries. Being there for our clients and seeing the strength a woman has at a time like birth is amazing. It is a beautiful experience and I also know there can be heartache as well while doing this job. As a current health worker I am aware of all the issues facing the health sector and I hope that I can help face those issues with the support of my workmates.

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.