I am a Proud Wiradjuri Man descendant from my mother’s maternal line from the Forbes area of NSW. I currently live on Gadigal Country and continue connections with mob, for example, being an assisted coach to the Waterloo U13 Rugby League side that played in the 2023 Koori Knock and my son is a proud member of the Waverley College Walawaani Indigenous cultural group and player in the Koori Knock-out.

No member of my family has ever been to university so stepping into this field being nearly 50-years-of-age was very daunting. During my psychology studies in 2023 I was fortunate to be able to return to ancestorial Country, spending a week in Condobolin and meeting with many of my mob whilst discussing what services could help their community. Mental health services are very much in demand, as is research into issues impacting upon this community and many Indigenous communities, such as disproportionate Indigenous incarceration levels.

My thesis and literature review both explored this area and it an area I have a passion for. Personally, I love being a dad, enjoy my sports, especially rugby league, and am a volunteer in both rugby league and surf lifesaving.

Of all qualified psychologists those with an Indigenous identity comprise less than 1% and this percentage is even less with Clinical or PhD qualified psychologists. Research has showed that many therapies based on western research and delivered without cultural awareness have been ineffective in the treatment of Indigenous mental illness or the prevention of the same.

My goal either as a clinical psychologist (post 2025) or through further research/teaching/clinical work as a PhD qualified practitioner (post 2027) is to further the inclusion of culturally appropriate therapies to help address the disproportionate levels of mental illness within Indigenous communities. In addition, to be an advocate for social change in law reform and Indigenous incarceration.

When Indigenous people are assisted to become leaders in specific fields they become role models for others. Learned helplessness is a chronic barrier for many Indigenous people but having role models helps our mob break through this barrier and embrace the strengths that they, are their ancestors, have possessed throughout generations.

It is my hope that I can play a small part in increasing the percentage of Indigenous psychologists, increase the effectiveness of therapies delivered to Indigenous peoples, and to address the disproportionate incarceration levels that have been enduring since colonisation of Indigenous peoples.

Thank you to those that have assisted with the scholarship I have been so fortunate to have been granted. During the first 6-months I have been studying a Master of Clinical Psychology and this course is very applicable/practical to working as a clinical psychologist in the future. It ties together many of the theories that we learnt in undergraduate study and brings it all together. This course also has a cultural and Indigenous component that is useful in my mentoring roles, and in preparation for working with Indigenous clients in the future.

In addition to my studies, I have volunteered and worked as  a marker for Oorala, assisted psychology undergraduate students and in limited spare time, been a rugby league referee and coach. I also participated in the Indigenous university games.

The Rotary Scholarship allows me to focus on my studies, while still assisting other Indigenous students that may need guidance or just to have a yarn at those stressful moments during a trimester. I also see this scholarship as a role model activity and by that, I mean that while I am being assisted now, in the future, if I am fortunate enough to become a clinical psychologist, I will then be able to give back in much the same way to others currently in my position.

Again, thank you to everyone involved in this scholarship. It has assisted me with my studies and as mentioned previously, I look forward to giving back after I graduate.