I am a proud Aboriginal man with my ancestors originating on Ngengi Wumirri land on the Daly River in the Northern Territory. I was lucky enough to grow up in Darwin where we’d spend most of our weekends goose shooting the swamps or up the Daly river chasing that big meter barramundi. I competed in many sports such as AFL, touch, rugby union, rugby league and athletics. This is where my love for sport began. With this love for sport I began studying sports and exercise science at JCU in Townsville. Mid-course I transferred to USC on the sunshine coast where I completed the degree.

Upon completing my sports science degree, I was lucky enough to get an offer to study my masters of physio at UTS in Sydney. Since the commence of my course here in Sydney I have not looked back, I am loving what I am studying and I’m excited for my future in this industry.

At the moment I am still very undecided on what my future will look like as a physiotherapist due there being so many different routes that can be taken. I am mostly interested in two main areas. The first area being indigenous sports pathways into elite sport whether this be AFL or other sports. I know as a physio the typical type of care is very superficial in these areas, such as rehab, strapping and so on. But I would like to be more then that. This could involve myself being a mentor as well as a physio, or targeting health within the program on more a community level, which has been shown to improve health outcomes for indigenous Australians. However I go about it, I want these young athletes to thrive physically and mentally and get the best opportunities they can.

My other possible route is rural care in more the chronic disease area of physio, as we are 2.3 times more likely to suffer from these types of diseases then the average Australian. I would love to help improve this figure and help many indigenous Australians lives however I can.

Semester 1 2024 Is the beginning of my final year of a 5-year study period. Within semester 1 I completed 3 in class face to face classes and a clinical placement at a sport private practice. Being exposed to a placement has really helped me understand that this is the correct career for me and has ignited a passion for the career. The 3 classes have been interesting this semester and has stepped away from the typical physiotherapy subjects, we have now begun our research papers which will be completed over the entire year of 2024 and if all goes well, my group and I will have a systematic review published by the end of the year looking into Artificial intelligence and its role in reducing musculoskeletal pain.

This semester I didn’t have an end-of-semester break as I had a great opportunity to begin a 10-week Internship with the Sydney Swans AFLW team. This opportunity has been amazing and they have now asked me to be a part of the physio team for the entire of the 2024 season and travel with the team. I am also helping with the Swans Indigenous pathway which is very exciting as I have the opportunity to work with other Aboriginal people.

Overall, I have been very busy during semester 1 2024 and semester 2 looks to be even busier. However, I am really enjoying my studies, I’ve had many amazing opportunities and hopefully, there will be more to come in the second half of the year.

I’d like to thank all the sponsors as without your help I would not have the ability to jump at these amazing opportunities.