I am a proud  Indigenous Wandiwondian Yuin man of the South Coast of NSW that has been blessed with the opportunity to grow up on my country and form strong connections to my community. I have a solid support network within my family and my community, and this allowed me to develop a strong sense of self and comfort in my identity, and it also gave me a solid sense of responsibility towards my people. While I come from a community with a high Indigenous population, I was the only Indigenous male in my year to finish their HSC. My family always supported my endeavour into further education, and with their support I was able to live out this dream completing my first degree, a Bachelor of Public Health (Health Promotion) at the University of Wollongong in 2020.

I chose to study in the health area because far too many of our people are dying early from preventable disease.   I have made the choice to break this cycle and do everything in my power to help our mob break their generational traumas.

While my journey to my first degree showed me the importance of developing and implementing prevention strategies to address the inequitable health outcomes our mob face, I struggled working isolated in an office and not face to face with our mob. I believe this is my strongest quality, I draw my inspiration and determination from my people, and I believe I would be better suited in clinical treatment.

The decision to study Optometry came after I had troubles with my own vision. At the time I was scared and genuinely thought that I was going to lose vision in one of my eyes. The optometrist was very dismissive and treated me as though I was silly. It left me furious and the thought of our Elders experiencing this, was painful. I know I can provide better care for mob than what was offered to me in my time of uncertainty and I felt as though I had a duty to obtain this qualification and serve my mob.

My vision is that in 5 years’ time I will be a qualified optometrist that will be able to treat mob in a culturally safe way. My 10-year plan is to give back to my community by helping establish/promote pathways for mob thinking about a career in health. Then when I have established myself, I want to open my own Allied health clinic, along with other Indigenous Allied Health professionals, to deliver a range of culturally appropriate health services.

Semester 1 of 2026 at Flinders was both rewarding and challenging. This semester I completed four topics: MMED3934 – Pharmacology and Toxicology, OPTO3007 – Clinical Skills 2, OPTO3008 – Diseases of the Eye 1, and HLTH3112 – Research and Study Skills 3.

Pharmacology and Toxicology provided a strong foundation in understanding how drugs and chemicals interact with the human body. We studied how medications are absorbed, distributed, metabolised, and eliminated, as well as their mechanisms of action and potential adverse effects. The topic also explored drug development, regulation, and risk assessment. This knowledge is highly relevant to optometry, as understanding pharmacological principles is essential for the safe and effective management of many ocular conditions.

Clinical Skills 2 was a significant step forward in my clinical training. Building on previous learnings, this topic introduced a range of techniques used to assess ocular health. I developed skills in performing comprehensive eye examinations and gained a deeper understanding of the strengths and limitations of different clinical procedures. The topic also reinforced the importance of creating a safe clinical environment and communicating effectively, helping me continue to build confidence when interacting with patients from diverse backgrounds.

Diseases of the Eye 1 introduced the study of conditions affecting the anterior eye and ocular adnexa. We explored the signs, symptoms, and underlying pathophysiology of a wide range of ocular diseases, with a strong focus on ocular immunology and the eye’s natural defence mechanisms. I particularly enjoyed learning how to recognise clinical presentations and formulate differential diagnoses based on patient signs and symptoms, as this closely reflects the problem-solving skills required in clinical practice.

Research and Study Skills 3 focused on evidence-based practice and the role of research in addressing real-world healthcare challenges. Through this topic, I strengthened my ability to critically evaluate scientific literature, identify gaps in knowledge, and communicate evidence effectively to different audiences. I also completed an industry-focused research project that allowed me to apply research principles to issues relevant to the health workforce and professional practice.

Overall, Semester 1 was a period of significant personal and academic growth. I am grateful for the ongoing support provided by Australian Rotary Health and look forward to continuing my studies and clinical development in the semesters ahead.