As a life long resident of the Northern Territory with strong ties to my Aboriginal background, lifestyle and culture, I have been continuously exposed to the shortfall in resources and cultural appropriate policies towards Aboriginal health.   When choosing my career path, improving the health outcomes for my wider community has always guided my choices.

Whilst working as a registered nurse in the Northern Territory I observed a lack of culturally safe communications methods, a lack of consideration of language, culture and health education barriers.   I have embarked on my current journey, studying the Doctor of Medicine to be in a position to improve this.   These mishaps within the healthcare system are a direct result of policies developed without the input of  Indigenous people with consideration of their specific health needs.   There is a lack of training on culturally sensitive topics being taught by Indigenous people and this does not five the opportunity for healthcare workers to learn about Aboriginal culture.   I strongly feel that having more doctors with ties to their Indigenous cultures can aid in bridging the gap and over time, set better examples for future generations, like myself, to have a voice in treatment, delivery of culturally safe healthcare and eventually be involved at a policy level.

I believe it is also important to recognise that by entering the workforce as a health practitioner, I will be increasing the number of Indigenous health care professionals in the Territory and the wider Australian community.  This is also an opportunity to continue to be a positive role model in my community and I am hopeful tat it will encourage our Indigenous youth to continue their education and follow their aspirations whenever that may lead them.

Last semester was a really positive and rewarding period for me, both academically and clinically. I performed well in my exams, which reflected the consistency and effort I had put into my study throughout the semester. It was encouraging to see that hard work translate into strong results. Alongside this, I completed a three-week general surgery rotation, which was one of the highlights of the semester. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and valued the opportunity to be immersed in the hospital environment. Being able to scrub in and observe procedures firsthand was especially exciting, as it gave me greater insight into the practical side of medicine and reinforced my interest in clinical learning. I also successfully completed my patient-centred assessments, receiving positive feedback on my communication skills and patient interactions. This was particularly meaningful to me, as developing strong rapport and providing compassionate care are qualities I place a high value on as a future doctor.

This semester, I am currently completing my GP placement at Palmerston Super Clinic, which has been a valuable learning experience. I have especially enjoyed spending time in urgent care, where I have been able to observe a wide variety of presentations and further develop my clinical reasoning skills in a fast-paced setting. I was also pleased to perform well in my first exam of the year, which has given me confidence and motivation moving forward. In the coming weeks, I will begin structured OSCE practice, and I am looking forward to continuing to build my confidence in clinical examinations and communication skills. Although I was disappointed that my planned placement in Lajamanu was cancelled due to flooding, I understand that these circumstances were outside anyone’s control. Looking ahead, I am excited to return to the hospital environment next semester and continue developing the practical skills and experiences that will shape me into a capable and compassionate doctor.