My name is Hayley and I am a proud Kamilaroi and Mandandanji woman studying Physiotherapy at the Australian Catholic University. I have grown up in Toowoomba, finishing high school at St Saviour’s College, before relocating to Brisbane in 2021 to be able to complete my degree. I am currently in my fifth and final year of my degree and I am looking forward to completing my clinical placements. As a daughter of two nurses and granddaughter of the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker in Miles, I have grown up within the world of healthcare and have been able to develop my love of helping people.

What I love most about studying Physiotherapy is being able to work towards improving quality of life and mobility to be able to do everyday tasks. I am hoping to work in cancer and palliative care after losing my dad to pancreatic cancer however, I also have a love for sport after many weekends supporting my younger sister playing soccer. Outside of my studies, I am the first ever First Nation’s Physiotherapy Trainee at Toowoomba Hospital and I work with the SWQ Munngu Munda’s Football Team in managing and social media organisation.

I want to be able to give back to my community and to contribute to improving Indigenous health by providing culturally safe and responsive care to provide the best outcomes possible. After losing my father to pancreatic cancer, I want to be able to assist those going through similar situations not just in terms of a physiotherapy point of view but by providing more holistic care to ensure that the needs of the patient are met. There are so many people in today’s world that are unable to access the healthcare they need to be able to function. I want to be able to make the change so that Indigenous people are able to access the allied health care they need to improve treatment equality.

In my experience working as the first ever First Nation’s Physiotherapy Trainee, there continues to be several issues that affect not only our patients but our colleagues as well, demonstrated in a lack of acknowledgement of Indigenous values and cultural responsiveness. I have gained an incredible experience in furthering my clinical knowledge whilst in this position and I truly believe that with this and into the future as a qualified physiotherapist, I will to be able to further develop the cultural awareness of my workforce and further my own learning of my culture and values. I want to make my family proud and show that there is the possibility for culturally safe and responsive healthcare that is equal no matter the colour of your skin.