As a qualified Registered Nurse, I plan to contribute to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes in rural and remote communities by fostering knowledge and understanding on the importance of timely and appropriate health care. Over the past 4 years I have worked in community controlled Indigenous health organisations in NSW and Queensland and personally seen the positive impact culturally appropriate health care has on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and their communities. I have worked very closely with clinical staff in these services which has helped me recognise the important role clinical staff play in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to better access healthcare. This work has been my inspiration to undertake study in nursing and further develop my skills and knowledge to support my people in improvising their health outcomes not only as individuals, but for the benefit of their families.

I see my future role as a Registered Nurse working in these communities to help provide culturally safe and opportune preventative healthcare with a definite health education focus. Improving health literacy, the understanding of medical terminology and chronic conditions is a goal of mine and to reduce barriers experienced by Aboriginal people in accessing healthcare.

Working as a Registered Nursing in various healthcare settings will ensure I am able to foster a sense of identity and well-being of Aboriginal patients engaging in our local health services. As a proud Aboriginal woman working in my own community, I look forward to become a part of improving the health status of Aboriginal people not just in my own community but in any further clinical role I undertake.

I aim to improve Indigenous health by being employed in a mainstream position in a nursing role in the public health sector to help foster and embed cultural safety and respect within the healthcare sector and the wide community. This will give me the opportunity to work within any health system and ensure I am well placed to assist in delivering health care that meets the needs of Aboriginal people within our community.

I am returning to part-time study in trimester 1 2023 and am on my way to completing my final nursing units this year and enrolled in my final capstone unit in trimester 2, 2023. I am very excited to work toward my final units and relieved to have gotten this far within my nursing degree journey. Both my final units are clinical nursing units and have the opportunity to refresh clinical nursing skills with a stronger degree of confidence.

Presently, I am enrolled in a chronic illness and supportive care unit which will help to build on my knowledge of chronic illness and care of patients with those conditions and will be a great segway into the final nursing unit in trimester 2 2023.

My journey to becoming a registered nurse has been a long one and having to work and study and manage family life has been an experience of challenges, successes, but also with that came lots of personal and professional growth. I am determined to continue to work toward completion of my degree to ensure I have the qualification to enhance my skills as I continue to work with community to support the initiatives of better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to support the improvement of culturally safe healthcare practices in areas where I work.