I am Sophie L’Estrange   I am a Kalkadoon, Wiradjuri woman. I grew up on Wiradjuri Country in Condobolin and Forbes and completed my undergrad (B. Oral Health) in Wagga Wagga.

I come from a farming and working family. Since finishing my undergrad, I have moved throughout rural and remote NSW, QLD and NT. I have worked in the dental field in urban and remote NT Indigenous communities, fished and camped at the tip of Queensland and worked on cattle stations in the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Channel Country of SWQLD.

I am passionate about all things rural and remote health, which includes Indigenous Health. I am currently a Board Member for the Indigenous Dental Association Australia and have been actively involved with Indigenous Allied Health Australia for many years. Growing up in rural Australia, I witnessed first-hand the barriers many communities face in accessing quality healthcare. My background in oral health, combined with my personal and professional experiences in rural and remote settings, has driven me to address these health inequities.

Through my medical studies and future career, I aim to advocate for better healthcare access, reduce misinformation, and promote culturally responsive care for Indigenous populations. I am determined to play a role in bridging the health inequities gap as a medical practitioner. One of my core goals is to work in rural and
remote communities, where the need for healthcare professionals is greatest.

In addition to direct healthcare delivery, I am committed to advocating for policy change. As a doctor, I will continue to push for systemic change, particularly in policies affecting Indigenous health. I will advocate for culturally safe healthcare services, better recruitment and retention of healthcare workers in rural areas, and increased community-controlled funding for Indigenous health programs.

My experiences have taught me the importance of staying connected to community and being a voice for those who are often overlooked. As a doctor, I will continue to use my platform to advocate for the health and wellbeing of priority groups, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are addressed..

For semester 1 I was studying on campus in Darwin, and I have really felt how intense this stage of the degree is becoming. A big focus for me has been developing my practical skills — especially physical examinations and anatomy work — and it has been a semester of confronting moments as well as moments of genuine pride in how far I have come.

One of the biggest challenges has been the cadaver dissections. Throughout our dissection lessons I have held strong feelings about respect and gratitude for our donor, and about finding the balance between learning and honouring someone’s body. It hasn’t always been easy, and there have been days when I have really had to remind myself that feeling deeply is not a weakness — it is a sign that I care about the people and the humanity behind our practice.

On the academic side, my exams this semester felt like a real test of how much my preparation and self-discipline have improved. I was nervous — especially after failing an assessment last year and needing to resit — but I put a lot of effort into extra practice sessions and studying with peers. This time, I passed. The relief and sense of achievement I felt afterwards were huge, and I think it has given me more confidence in my ability to bounce back when things do not go to plan.

Outside of Uni, I have tried to hold onto the things that make me feel balanced and more like myself. I have been spending as much time outdoors with my horses as possible, which really grounds me. Riding and caring for them is where I process a lot of my thoughts from the week — I think of it as my own version of meditation.

Looking ahead, I am inching closer to the clinical years of my degree, which is both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. I am thrilled to share that I have been accepted into the Medical Education Central Australia (MECA) program with Flinders, which will place me in Alice Springs for the entirety of my third-year clinical rotations. I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn in a rural setting and hope it will help shape me into the kind of doctor I want to be — someone who combines knowledge and technical skills with compassion, reflection, and respect for every patient I meet.

I am genuinely thankful for the support that makes this journey possible. It means a lot to be able to focus on my studies, knowing there are people who believe in the value of what I am working towards — even when the journey has its confronting or challenging moments. Your support helps me to keep showing up, learning, and growing, and I’m so appreciative of that.