My name is Kaleisha Cowan Roberts, I am a proud Yuin and Bundjalung woman, who was fortunate enough to be born on Country in a small town called Nowra. I am a current 5th year medical student with less than 16 months left in my journey into medicine. I spent my whole childhood and teenage years living on Country, I was raised in Community and learnt the core values of my Cultural Identity from a very young age.

As a Saltwater woman, there is nothing more than the sounds of the ocean and the feeling of the sand to humble me and make me feel connected. My journey is still at the beginning of a long career but hopefully somewhere along that journey I will move into a speciality of Ophthalmology. However, for now, I am pushing towards my short term goals of finishing university, get an internship at a good hospital and taking opportunities to help mob out in Communities.

When my nan tagged me in a Facebook post about an Indigenous medical scholarship, I felt a deep sense of purpose. Growing up, I was often reminded to avoid reading comments on Indigenous news articles due to the harmful prejudice they contained. But this time, I read them. What I saw hurt—questions about our intelligence, our ability to practice medicine, and whether Aboriginal doctors could be trusted. Rather than discouraging me, these comments reinforced my resolve to pursue a career in medicine.

They highlighted the critical need for representation and why my role as an Indigenous doctor extends far beyond clinical knowledge.  For over 60,000 years, our Ancestors have practiced holistic healing through a profound understanding of Land, Kinship, and Community. As an Aboriginal doctor, I will blend traditional health perspectives with Western medicine to offer culturally safe, patient-centred care. True healing requires more than diagnosing disease—it involves understanding lived experiences, historical trauma, and the systemic barriers impacting Indigenous health outcomes.

A key issue in Indigenous healthcare is accessibility. Many in our Communities struggle with a health system that doesn’t meet their needs. I aim to improve this system, whether through direct patient care, advocacy, or policy reform. I am committed to working in rural and remote communities, where chronic disease, mental health issues, and preventable illnesses are disproportionately high.

I also aspire to mentor the next generation of First Nations doctors. Through mentorship and community engagement, I will support others in overcoming the barriers I have faced and increase Indigenous representation in healthcare. My mission is to heal our People and transform pain into belonging.

I have just finished a four-week placement in Kempsey as part of my general medicine rotation, and it’s been one of the most grounding and reflective experiences I’ve had this year. While the clinical side of the placement focused on internal medicine, the setting offered so much more than just hospital-based learning. Being on Country, surrounded by the Community, and hearing language spoken brought up deep feelings of familiarity and connection. I grew up in Nowra and Jervis Bay, and being here reminded me of home –the people, the stories, and the spirit of the land all felt very close to my heart.

Over the course of this year, I have rotated through general surgery, psychiatry, general practice, and now general medicine. Each has offered something different; surgery tested my stamina and precision; psychiatry challenged my communication and compassion; general practice gave me insight into the strength of primary care and continuity; and general medicine has tied many of those learnings together. These experiences have not only helped me build my clinical skills but also helped me reflect more deeply on the kind of doctor I want to become.

With less than 14 months left until I graduate, I am starting to feel the weight of what is ahead. It is no longer just about exams or study blocks. It’s the creeping realisation that this chapter of my life is ending, and a new one is about to begin. While I feel incredibly grateful to be here, I would be lying if I said I was not a little scared. Questions like “What if I’m not good enough?” or “What if I can’t keep up?” come up more than I’d like to admit. But I also know that fear can coexist with growth. I’ve made it this far, and that means something.

One of the big highlights recently was presenting my ophthalmology research (the project was looking at the use of VR headsets in perimetry testing as a replacement for the normal clinical based machines in glaucoma for rural and remote Communities) at a national conference in Perth. It was nerve-wracking but also empowering. Standing in front of others and sharing something I’d worked so hard on gave me a sense of pride and showed me that research, especially work that has Community relevance is something I could see myself continuing in the future.

Outside of medicine, I have really been leaning into the things that keep me grounded. I have always loved cooking and baking; there is something meditative about it, especially during long study periods. I recently got a Kindle and have fallen in love with reading all over again. I have also been putting time into reconnecting with culture – attending Community events, doing research, and trying to deepen my connection with land and story. It is a slow, ongoing journey, but one that’s incredibly important to me.

In between placements, I am big on routine. My days are usually structured with early mornings at the gym, study blocks, and time for myself in the evenings, whether that’s a walk, a book, or just being still. I grew up in a loud chaotic family where a lot was going on and there was never really time for quiet, so being able to have that quiet time as an adult has been detrimental to my functioning and wellbeing. I still play netball on the weekends, my favourite social time, also helps that it’s something I have been doing since I was twelve so it is more of a comfort than a duty. I also work part-time at Bunnings, which has been a great way to stay connected to the everyday world outside of medicine.

And truthfully, I do miss my family….a lot. Being away from home during placement can be tough, especially when I am somewhere that reminds me of them. But it also reminds me of why I am doing this; to return, to give back, and to be someone who can make a difference in Communities like the ones I come from.

Thank you again for walking this journey with me and for the support that allows me to keep showing up, even when things get hard. It means more than words can say.