I am a proud Whadjuk Noongar and Yindjibarndi woman and am currently in my 2nd yearof Medical School at Monash university. Outside of my studies I am a part of an initiative to help increase university attendance for students from underrepresented backgrounds.  As well I try to involve pilates, yoga and pottery into my weekly schedule if time allowing.

My role model, my grandmother, was a strong Indigenous woman who proudly advocated for Indigenous communities across Australia and representation of our culture on a global scale. However, her remarkable work was unfortunately cut short due to falling ill, due to cancer and ultimately succumbing to her illness. Her passing was devastating for my family, but also for the many Indigenous communities she represented and the vital work she did to improve our people’s outcomes. For this reason, I have chosen to pursue a career in the medical field and aspire to help close the gap and make our
Indigenous communities feel more supported in their health journey and see better health outcomes.

My vision is to provide free healthcare to my community to all mob, in a setting that is culturally safe, sensitive, and empowering. I aim to create a space where
community members feel valued, and where healthcare is delivered with an understanding of the individual cultural and social needs of Indigenous peoples. In my
practice I want to integrate Western medicine with our traditional cultural health practices, creating a holistic approach that respects and honours Indigenous knowledge, values, and healing methods, and through this offer more comprehensive, unique, and culturally appropriate care. Additionally, I want to place a heavy focus on health education to improve health literacy and grow awareness about preventative health initiatives and the importance of early intervention.

Semester 1 has been both challenging and rewarding, providing great opportunities for academic and clinical growth. As a third year medical student, semester 1 marked the start of my clinical years. The experiences and opportunities that I have had during my first semester reinforced the importance of patient cantered care and how to integrate theoretical knowledge within that. Through placements, classes and lectures, I have had the opportunity to continue to develop my clinical reasoning, communication skills and professionalism while gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in health care.

During semester 1, I commenced my 18 week clinical placement at the Alfred Hospital where I completed three six-week rotations in Anaesthetics, General Medicine, and Haematology Thrombosis. Each rotation provided valuable opportunities to develop my clinical knowledge, practice skills and confidence in patient care while exposing me to a diverse range of medical presentations and multidisciplinary teams.  Although I gain meaningful learning experiences across all three rotations, I developed a particular interest in Anaesthetics. I enjoyed the combination of physiology, procedural skills, teamwork and perioperative patient care and the rotation reinforced my enthusiasm for exploring this speciality further. I look forward to seeking additional opportunities to build on this experience and continue developing my understanding of the field throughout my medical training.

Outside of my studies, I continued my involvement with the Access Monash Mentoring program, serving in both Mentor and Mentor Leader roles. These positions have been incredibly rewarding, allowing me to support and encourage Indigenous high school students as they pursue their aspirations for tertiary education. I value the opportunity to share my own experiences, provide guidance, and help make the transition to university fell more achievable and less daunting. As a Mentor Leader, I have also enjoyed supporting fellow mentors and contributing to the delivery of a positive and culturally safe mentoring program.

In Semester 2, I will be undertaking clinical rotations in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renal Medicine and Trauma surgery, all of which I am looking forward to. Although semester 2 includes a demanding assessment schedule, I remain committed to my studies and am motivated to continue building on the progress I made in Semester 1. I look forward to completing another successful semester and taking another step towards achieving my goal of becoming a doctor.