As an Aboriginal woman in Australia, I am cognisant of issues faced by my people. I have chosen to become a health worker in the allied health field (Psychologist) to try to alleviate some of the stigma surrounding seeking mental health services in Indigenous communities. Having previously volunteered in a rural Aboriginal Community, I have witnessed the stigma surrounding mental health.

Some key influences that made me want to be a Psychologist are:

• I have experienced first-hand the devastation caused by severe mental health issues – having been affected by the suicide of a family member, this is a key driver for me to become a Psychologist. I have also witnessed the ongoing effects of trans-generational trauma, not only in my family but in the community. The ongoing adverse effects of colonisation on Indigenous peoples’ mental health is a particular interest of mine, and something I would like to potentially specialise in for my post-graduate studies.
• I would like to be a role model to younger generations. Being the first person to graduate from university in my family of 8 siblings has shown me the power of being a role model. I hope to encourage my younger siblings, nieces/nephews and cousins to not only become health professionals, but to show them that with perseverance their goals are attainable.

Some accomplishments I hope to achieve within my career as a health worker:

• As a health professional, within the next 10 years I would like to practice as a Psychologist in rural Indigenous communities that lack mental health services, or set up a services to allow these communities ongoing face-to-face sessions with Psychologists.
• Within the next 5 years I would like to work as a Psychologist in the criminal justice system, whether it be as an Indigenous well-being officer or as a prison Psychologist. I hope to be able to help rehabilitate prisoners and break the cycle.

Since 18 years old, I have continued volunteer for Indigenous causes wherever possible.

• Amnesty International – I volunteered as a research assistant to an Indigenous Rights Campaigner under the Community is Everything campaign, which looked at reducing the number of incarcerated Indigenous children in the justice system and raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility.
• Oodnadatta Volunteer Program – I completed the 3-month Oodnadatta program run by Australian Volunteers International (AVI). I went to a rural Aboriginal community called Oodnadatta (SA) to run/organise community projects and assist with literacy at the local school.
• South Africa Wallabies Exchange – I was selected for a 6-week Indigenous volunteer exchange program in which I helped build an eco-village for a rural town in South Africa. I also ran children’s activities and taught the community about Indigenous culture.
• I am currently a Tutor for the Deakin Institute of Koori Education – I hope to tutor Indigenous students in their first year of Psychology when I progress to my third year of study.

Last trimester I completed two subjects, Biological Psychology (Brain and Behaviour) and Health Psychology (Addiction).

I found both subjects very interesting and different to each other. Health Psychology (Addiction) was aimed at showing the reality of being a Psychologist dealing with clients facing alcohol and drug addiction.  For both of the main assignments, which were case study assessments, we pretended to be an Alcohol or Other Drugs (AOD) intake worker treating clients who were experiencing addiction. In the first case study we went through how to use real intake tools such as the Victorian AOD intake tool, self-completion form and the Clinicians Guide. Our learnings in this assessment were compounded in the second case study assignment. In the second assessment we also went over the different stages of decision making and protective factors (factors that support a client to keep to their goal) and the complexities around addiction.

I found Biological Psychology (Brain and Behaviour) to be a lot more technical. In this unit we went through neuroanatomy, how neurons communicate with each other and the brain, and EEGs (electroencephalogram) a medical test used to measure the electrical activity of the brain. In our major assignment we had to deliver a mini lecture (which I was very nervous for! I don’t consider Biology to be my forte). In the mini lecture I surprised myself with how much I was able to learn about the subject, which was ion channels (protein structures found in cell membrane).

In Trimester 2 I am looking forward to studying three subjects, Personality Psychology, Psychopathology and Aboriginal Australian Stories and Songlines (elective). It feels a bit surreal that I have almost finished the undergraduate portion of my degree (Trimester 2 and Trimester 3 to go!)