As a graduate Registered Nurse, I will play a vital role in educating and providing health to the community through clinically appropriate care that is culturally safe, high quality, responsive and accessible for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

One area of Indigenous health I have strong interest in its rural and remote area nursing. Growing up in Darwin, I began to quickly notice health services in remote area are very different from their regional and metropolitan counterparts. Outside of Darwin and Palmerston, most of Northern Territory is considered remote with many people living on cattle stations or in mining towns and Aboriginal communities. Towns such as Alice Springs or Katherine provide services to the surrounding areas, with facilities being generally smaller but player an important role in the provision of community wide integrated health services. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people living in these areas are more likely than non-Indigenous to have higher rates of chronic conditions, potentially preventable hospitalizations, and lower overall health outcomes. This disadvantage in health may be due to living conditions, social isolation, socioeconomic status and distance from services.

As a graduate Registered Nurse, I aim to continue to address the social inequality and determinants of health that are important to our long term health. Lastly throughout my studies and career, I aspire to embody drive, ambition and persistence to create change to improve Indigenous health outcomes. I need to appoint myself in leadership roles, demonstrate my expertise and knowledge, and work to make changes to our health policy and delivery of service to close the gap.

In Semester One I commenced my first semester of Doctor of Medicine course. Adjustment to Medicine has been quiet challenging. Coming into medicine I had a pretty idea of the expectations and pressure of medicine. It was an adjustment to a heavy workload, increasing the risk of burnout and difficulties in work/life balance. I don’t have a strong background in anatomy and physiology as nursing tends to focus more on patient-centred care rather than illness and diagnosis. Nevertheless, I have identified this area I need to improve to continuously succeed in the MD program, especially during the first two years. In saying that I do feel very confident coming into 3+4 clinical years as I feel it’s an advantage with my prior nursing background.

From Semester 2, I’ve decided to take intermission and have a break as I did not really have one before starting medicine. I’m currently completing a Masters of Public Health as the year has been quiet stressful and looking to take things a bit slow.

I would like to thank the Australian Rotary Health and my sponsor for your continued support for the past three years. The sponsorship provided has allowed me to purchase the necessary items in my course. It has also allowed me to put away some savings during these uncertain times. I am very appreciative and grateful for this opportunity