As humans we long for love, nurture, compassion, connectedness and empathy. These desires cannot always be met by our close family, friends and community thus I will find it my purpose to heal those with the knowledge I have gained through the University of Western Australia, whilst also giving my patients the holistic care they deserve. My education will positively impact both my community and the wider world, as I give back my knowledge and serve others in need.

I will be completing my seven years of study at the University of Western Australia where my aspiration is once I have finished my medicine degree, I will specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBGYN). OBGYN is a specialised field which will always be needed as women and babies will forever continue to need their aid in primary prevention strategies, labour, birth and beyond. OBGYN is also a profession in which I can travel with and is thus more diverse. By specialising in this area of medicine, I will be able to achieve my dream of relocating to the Kimberly and helping the women with their health and the health of their babies. My education through UWA and my dream of specialising in Obstetrics and Gynaecology will allow me to further provide women with the care they require during this delicate time in their life.

One of my ATAR subjects was Health, which equipped me with the understanding on the inequities Indigenous people face which negatively affect their health and the health of their families. Being Indigenous, and having spent time as a child in the Kimberly I have a desire to return back to these humble people and be of their service where ever I can. I would especially like to care for Indigenous women and their babies through being a support network for them and encouraging them to return to living naturally off the land, to equip their children with the best chance to thrive in this rapidly changing environment. Antenatal care is imperative for the physical health and emotional wellbeing of the mother which directly affects her unborn baby. Like everything prevention is better than a cure which ultimately starts with healthy antenatal care to reduce the risk of increasing chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and mental health condition. I strongly believe that specialising in OBGYN will allow me to positively impact and improve the health status of Indigenous women, their children and wider community.

Later on in my career, I will join the Médecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) program to help those in developing countries improve their health status. I believe this international humanitarian medical non-government organisation is a fantastic program whereby doctors have the opportunity to reduce endemic diseases associated with the country. By being able to go to UWA, I will be equipped with the best knowledge so that I have the skills to give these people the care they rightly deserve. Again, women in developing countries need all the assistance they can get to ensure that their children have the best possible chance to live their best possible life. The best ways to reduce global barriers to health like poverty starts with the early life of a child and a strong and healthy pregnancy, as these children are better equipped to stay at school and gainful employment. By studying medicine and OBGYN, I will be able to give these women my care, compassion and knowledge to ensure that they have the best antenatal, intrapartum, post-natal care to assist in the reduction of global barriers to health, thus improving not only their family’s health but also promoting economic prosperity in their country.

Ultimately, my caring, kind and compassionate nature fuels my desire to help others. I believe, studying medicine and specialising in Obstetrics and Gynaecology will allow me to positively support the families, women and children to ensure they have the best start to life.  OBGYN will also give me the opportunity to travel and succour those in both in rural, remote Australia and developing countries. The University of Western Australia will provide me with the foundation of my knowledge, which will positively impact both my local community and wider world, for the humanitarian benefit of all people.

Starting medicine this semester has been a very positive experience. I have really enjoyed the social side of the course, meeting new people and working closely with peers has made the transition into medical school exciting and rewarding. My peers and I have started many morning routines together. This includes running every Monday morning and heading to the beach for a swim every Wednesday morning. Along with this I have also attended many medical social nights. These include ‘A day in the life of different GPs,’ learning to suture and canulate nights and some quiz nights.

At the same time, I have found the academic workload to be very challenging. The volume of content and the fast pace require constant effort. So far this semester we have covered a range of foundation topics and delved into the cardiac system, respiratory system and gastro-intestinal system. These have been interesting but the sheer amount of content can be overwhelming. However slowly I do feel I am gradually adapting to the demands of study and learning how to manage my time more effectively.

I am especially appreciative of the scholarship I received, as it has allowed me to reduce my work commitments this semester. At the beginning of the year, I started working at Perth Children’s Hospital in the Emergency division. So far in this role I have conducted studies and written a report on the importance and value having Aboriginal Health Practitioners and now I am currently working on creating a peer support groups for Neurodiverse staff and staff who come from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background.

Outside of university, I continue to stay involved in sport, particularly football and touch rugby. We are currently playing finals in footy which is very exciting! Despite Medicine being very busy I believe maintaining this involvement has been important for my wellbeing, it gives me balance, a chance to stay active, and a supportive community outside of study.

Overall, this semester has been both rewarding and demanding. I am proud of the progress I have made so far, and I am looking forward to building on this foundation as I continue through the course.