I am a proud Wiradjuri women born and bred on Awabakal/Worimi land Newcastle NSW. My journey into health started young starting at 15 when I got my first job with NSW Health, working at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital as a student based trainee in admin. I spent a couple of years there before moving into a mental health traineeship as an Aboriginal Mental Health Professional trainee with Yimamulinbinkaan Aboriginal Mental Health Service, where I’ve been learning and growing ever since.

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) at Charles Sturt University and once I graduate, I will step into my role as a mental health clinician. I plan on going even further with a Master’s, because our mob deserve the best care and I want to be part of making that happen.

Outside of work and study, I love keeping active through softball and Muay Thai. I always get around the Koori knockout and Koori Netball Tournament, it is a great way to stay connected and have a bit of fun. I’m also a proud member of the Awabakal Land Council and Indigenous Allied Health Australia, making sure I stay involved in community and culture.

Outside of work and study, I love keeping active through softball and Muay Thai. I always get around the Koori knockout and Koori Netball Tournament, it’s a great way to stay connected and have a bit of fun. I’m also a proud member of the Awabakal Land Council and Indigenous Allied Health Australia, making sure I stay involved in community and culture

As an Indigenous person studying a Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health), my commitment to improving the well-being of our communities is deeply personal. Through my studies and my traineeship with Yimamulinbinkaan Aboriginal Mental Health Service (YAMHS), I have witnessed the immense challenges our people face, especially regarding mental health. Too many silently struggle with intergenerational trauma, discrimination and the enduring impacts of colonisation. I aim to be part of the solution, offering culturally safe, compassionate and meaningful support.

Mental health care for Indigenous Australians must extend beyond the Western clinical approach. Healing is about connection to Country, culture and community. At YAMHS, we are fortunate to work alongside a spiritual healer and I’ve seen first-hand the power of blending traditional healing with clinical care. This holistic approach addresses the spiritual and cultural needs of our mob and I strive to ensure these practices are recognised and incorporated into mental health care particularly in rural areas.

As a qualified mental health professional, I want to be a trusted support for our people, advocating for more Indigenous-led mental health services, culturally competent programs and increased funding for community-driven initiatives. My goal is to create mental health care that strengthens, not isolates our communities.

The past six months have been very busy but really rewarding. I am now in my second year of my Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health), studying full-time online whilst also doing the Djirruwang traineeship. While online study can definitely feel a bit isolating at times, I’m lucky to have a few people around me in Newcastle who are doing the same degree and traineeship. It’s made a huge difference. We support each other with uni work, bounce ideas off one another and vent when things get stressful.

In April, I went up for a week for intensives and that was a real highlight. It’s always great to reunite with my other classmates and lecturers, makes the course feel more real. After months of studying online, being in that environment gave me a much-needed refresh. It was also really motivating to hear about other students’ experiences, both from those in traineeships like me and those who aren’t. Hearing their stories and challenges reminded me how different everyone’s journeys are and it gave me a new appreciation for how far I have come.

I started my placement at the Mater Mental Health Centre last week. Since I already work in the field through my traineeship, a lot of the clinical concepts are not new to me but working in a hospital based mental health setting has still been a really eye opening experience. It’s very different from the community work I am used to. The pace, structure and way care is delivered in an inpatient setting has given me a new perspective and helped me see how things work across different parts of the system. It has been a great chance to compare approaches and strengthen my skills in a new environment.

Academically, last semester went good, I got High Distinctions in my assessments which felt like a huge achievement. That said, I’m still finishing off the last two assessments that were impacted by everything that happened earlier in the semester. In May, my house was hit during a natural disaster. My computer was damaged and parts of my house were damaged which completely threw me off track. Since then, I’ve been doing my assessments at work whenever I have spare time. I had to apply for extensions  and there were definitely moments where it all felt overwhelming trying to juggle study, work and everything going on at home. But I have been slowly pushing through, and getting those strong results back despite everything has reminded me of what I am capable of. Now I am focused on finishing those last two and wrapping up the semester strong.

Outside of work and study, I have been trying to keep some balance in my life. Most weekends I try to spend time with friends or family, whether that’s going out for dinner or just hanging out and watching the footy. I’ve also been getting back into going for bike rides with my boyfriend, which helps clear my head after a big week. I have been doing Muay Thai classes for a while now, and it’s been a solid outlet both physically and mentally. It’s something that really helps me switch off and stay focused during the week.

All in all, I’m feeling proud of how far I’ve come and excited for what’s still ahead in my journey.