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.

Charlie’s commitment to community leadership is evident through his active participation in various initiatives. He has been a 2023 participant in both the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program and the Queensland Indigenous Youth Parliament, where he voiced the concerns and aspirations of his community. Additionally, Charlie has contributed to the First Nations Youth Strategy Engagement Group, striving to create positive change for Indigenous youth on a broader scale.

Beyond his academic pursuits, Charlie dedicates his time to mentorship and advocacy. He serves as a Tutoring for Success Program Tutor, providing academic support to fellow students, and represents Indigenous voices as a Griffith University Student Ambassador for Indigenous Engagement. His involvement in the Learning & Teaching Committee and Student Experience Sub-Committee further demonstrates his dedication to enhancing the educational experience for Indigenous students.

As an aspiring health practitioner focused on enhancing Indigenous health outcomes, I emphasize the significance of cultural competency and community-centred healthcare. My adaptable course of study allows me to explore culturally relevant subjects often overlooked in traditional programs. By integrating Indigenous health perspectives into my education, I aim to address existing healthcare disparities.

Throughout my first year of the Bachelor of Health Science program at Griffith University, I’ve maintained a GPA of 5.75, demonstrating my commitment to academic excellence. I actively seek internships and clinical placements in diverse healthcare settings to gain first-hand experience in tackling the distinct health challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

In addition to academic pursuits, I am deeply involved in community initiatives. As a member of the First Nations Youth Strategy Engagement Group, I collaborate on programs promoting overall well-being, partnering with governmental bodies to advocate for policies prioritizing Indigenous health.

Furthermore, as a Youth Advocate for the Queensland Family and Child Commission, I amplify Indigenous youth voices in policymaking, ensuring our unique needs are recognized and addressed. My holistic approach includes continued involvement in policy development and the delivery of culturally safe healthcare upon qualification.

I am committed to fostering a future where the health of First Nations people is prioritized and healthcare services are tailored to meet community needs, guided by principles of cultural competence and collaboration.

In Trimester 2 of 2024, I completed 3 subjects (Fundamentals of Microbiology, Clinical Pharmacology for Allied Health & Healthcare Systems). I completed the trimester with the following final grades: Microbiology – 5 (Credit), Clinical Pharmacology – 4 (Pass), Healthcare Systems – 7 (High Distinction).   While I was disappointed with my grade for pharmacology, I am aware that it was most affected by not having reliable transport. This scholarship helped me to get my own car, marking a huge step in having control over my own life and choices. This has continued to improve my learning and personal outcome through the summer trimester classes (trimester 3, 2024 ends 22/02/2025).

I enjoyed Microbiology as the class primarily focused on clinical microbiology and diagnostic tools for bacterial and viral infections. The laboratory sessions were run in Intensive Mode at the end of the trimester, which I think I preferred, as there were more opportunities to apply concepts from experiments completed in prior sessions.

I also enjoyed Healthcare Systems as it gave the opportunity to review how the broader healthcare system works within Australia and other countries. The assessment items for this class included an Evidence-Based Policy Brief and a Verbal Presentation which gave me the opportunity to provide my perspective as a First Nations Man studying medical sciences. Ultimately, I am very grateful for the marks I received in these courses and am looking forward to the Doctor of Medicine program next year (2026 hopefully).

Personally, I am preparing to move to the Gold Coast to be closer to Griffith University and my new job placement as a Medical Cadet with Gold Coast Health. As a cadet, I have already started to gain experience within a major Healthcare system, working with complex care patients. This opportunity has been
unexpected but has fallen into place seamlessly with how I wanted to approach beginning my career.

Applications for the Doctor of Medicine Program open in May, which is approaching much faster than expected, but I’m feeling pretty okay about it. In my next update, I’ll be able to provide a list of which medical schools I have applied to, as well as how those applications may be tracking.

In summary, the last year has been a whirlwind of change and amazing things that I never thought would be able to happen. While I know that I have worked hard to be where I am and to be headed where I am going, but I remain tremendously thankful to how the Rotary Indigenous Health Scholarship has acted as a catalyst for many of these changes.

At the moment, I am currently knee-deep in final exam review for the summer trimester, so I apologise for how late this letter has been sent. But I am looking forward to providing the next update at the end of Trimester 1, 2025!