My name is Talia Cooke, I am a proud Gunnai Kurnai and Gunditjmara woman born and raised in the Latrobe Valley region of Victoria. Since I was young, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. Coming from a blue-collar family with no healthcare workers has proved this adventure to be unpredictable at best. I am extremely proud to say I am entering my fourth year of Medicine at Monash University and have enjoyed every step of the journey.

My first two years of university were completed in the suburbs of Melbourne, I have been fortunate enough to do placement last year and the remainder of this year in the community I grew up in. Currently I am on my GP rotation in my hometown and was supported by faculty to undergo some of my learning at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

I have a strong interest in community health as well as obstetrics and gynaecology. I hope to continue my studies to become a GPO (General practitioner obstetrician). Being proud of my regional background, I am a passionate advocate for Indigenous health services and regional and rural health and hope to give back to the communities that raised me.

I am committed to contributing to a culturally appropriate workforce by ensuring representation within the health sector. Growing up regionally and not seeing Indigenous people represented in the healthcare workforce has shown how difficult accessibility can be for our mob. I am a firm believer that if healthcare reflects the community we treat, our communities will gain more trust in the system and be more likely to be proactive and take control of their health and wellbeing.

I am also a proud advocate for education to Indigenous students in my community. I have had the pleasure of sharing my story to students at a variety of events and schools. I hope by sharing my adversities and pathways that got me into Medicine will prove to the next generation that just because they don’t see Indigenous doctors, doesn’t mean we can’t be Indigenous doctors. If I can inspire just one student to pursue their own dream of a career in healthcare, I know this has the power to improve Indigenous health. Representation, advocacy, and commitment in our communities can the strength our mobs need to improve the outcomes of our health and wellbeing.