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.

Last year I had the pleasure of joining the Mornington Rotary Health Club for their annual Christmas Party and it was a great joy meeting everyone and being able to share my story. Now 2026 will be my last year as a medical student before I begin working as an intern (junior doctor) in a hospital!

Since I wrote my last progression report I have since completed my placement in Paediatrics and Psychiatry at Latrobe Regional Hospital. I had so many fantastic doctors in psychiatry who took the time to teach me about the mind and the sometimes confronting but almost-always rewarding work they do helping individuals living with mental illness.

My placement in paediatrics was one of my most favourite rotations so far! I took a real interest in the care of newborns in the special care nursery. I learnt how to swaddle, change their nappies, identify murmurs, and was even given the opportunity to teach the doctors about the guidelines and protocols for a condition called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome! I felt like a real part of the team which was a fantastic experience!

In December 2025 I had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association’s conference in Sydney! Here I got to reconnect with a lot of my fellow medical students from all across the nation, as well as meet new inspiring physicians and learn more about research in our communities!

I will start my placement this year in the Acute Care Unit of Bairnsdale Regional Health Service. When I did my very first emergency department rotation in 2024, I was terrified. I thought everything happened too fast and I could not make any decisions quickly enough, but this time I am excited and motivated to prove to myself how far I have come as a student! I am especially hoping I will have the opportunity to do some procedures such as suturing (putting stitches in) and taking blood.

Other things I get to look forward to this year include rotations in surgery and general medicine at Bairnsdale, as well as anaesthetics, aged care and research at Central Gippsland Health in Sale. I also am excited to explore East Gippsland more, and continue with my passions of playing soccer each weekend and reading books!