Gaining a training placement in Kununurra in 2024 has special significance for medical student, Brianna Ozies, a Djugun woman from Derby.

Brianna grew up in the West Kimberley and is very keen to explore the East Kimberley and form new connections with communities there.

“Having the opportunity to do my medical training in the Kimberley and learn on Country fills me with joy and makes my heart feel so full. For many years I’ve had to live in Perth for my studies which has meant being far away from my family and Country,” Brianna says.

“I’m grateful for the chance to improve my skills and learn more about health care, particularly for Indigenous people.”

The Notre Dame University student is one of six Aboriginal students selected for 12-month rural placements next year by the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia (RCSWA).

The students will be living and training in Kununurra, Broome, and Bunbury. One of those heading to sunny Broome is University of Western Australia student Claudia Walton-McDermott.

Claudia is a Minyungbal woman from Bundjalung Country in northern New South Wales.

She is “beyond stoked” to be accepted into RCSWA and even more so to be heading to the Kimberley.

“I think it’s going to be a fantastic experience to learn from both the doctors up there and the community. To be able to learn on Country with my peers is such a privilege. It still hasn’t quite sunk in that I’m going up there yet,” Claudia says.

RCSWA director Associate Professor Andrew Kirke says Indigenous doctors represent about one per cent of the workforce so having six Aboriginal medical students out of the school’s total cohort of 112 students is an encouraging result.

“We have some strategies to encourage Aboriginal students into the program and support them while they study. We also have a school-wide program which aims to connect and engage with regional and rural Aboriginal communities,” Andrew says.

“The Aboriginal students are invited to a planning session at the beginning of the year coordinated by our Aboriginal academic and research staff. The staff share their own career journeys, study strategies, and contact details for ongoing support.”

RCSWA’s mission is to train future rural doctors and academics to ensure equitable access to high quality, culturally appropriate healthcare for rural and remote Western Australians.

Could Brianna and Claudia be those future rural doctors?

Brianna is hoping to return to her community and work towards encouraging positive relationships between Aboriginal people and health services.

“I would like to work towards early interventions for health issues, to prevent them from developing into chronic diseases, thereby improving health outcomes and life expectancy for my mob,” she explains.

Beyond graduation feels like a lifetime away for Claudia but she intends to apply for a Nhulunbuy Hospital internship position in East Arnhem Land.

“Ultimately, I’m staying open to where life may take me as a doctor and as a person,” she adds.

Andrew’s hopes for the Aboriginal students are like those he holds for all RCSWA students, yet he recognises there is an additional layer of context.

“We’d love to see the Aboriginal students develop their rural medical careers and maintain those deep connections to Country and culture in any way they can,” he says.

Prospective Aboriginal students are welcome to contact [email protected] for further information about our program.