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Sian shows the way for potential Indigenous doctors
By PETER ROWE
EXCLUSIVE
For Sian Maidment becoming a doctor is something a decade ago she would never have dreamed of.
The proud Wardandi woman already had a degree in sports science from Armidale University in Northern NSW and had an idea of becoming a physiotherapist, but had taken time out, admitting she was struggling with the plan and needed some space to re-evaluate her career pathway.
Living in Foster on the mid north coast of NSW, a four hour drive north of Sydney, she worked in a bar before someone told her about the Yagap pathway program that helps Indigenous men and women find the right under-graduate career.
“I struggled for as couple of years, but looking back now I can see that those years were not lost. I learnt a lot of people skills,” she admitted.
Newly qualified indigenous doctors celebrate graduation day.
“A lived experience is sometimes not always seen as a positive for our people, but that’s what gave me the resilience to move into medicine.”
And after what she describes as some amazing mentoring, “someone saw something in me”, the door opened to the Miroma Bunbilla program, specifically designed for medicine.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, the Miroma Bunbilla Program is a pre-entry pathway to the Joint Medical Program at the University of Newcastle.
“I went on a week’s trial,” Sian told ibnews.com.au. “And I loved it.”
This week after five long years at university, studying through that pathway program, she graduated to become a doctor.
“I remember way back when I started this journey it seemed an unrealistic goal, but here I am today doing something I love and hopefully I have made my family proud and I can now look at helping our communities.”
She credits her success to some “amazing people” who have helped her achieve her goals.
“So many role models who have been there for me and for everyone on the program, encouraging us as we grew in confidence,” Sian added.
And there’s her mum, Michelle, from Bunbury in Western Australia, a proud Wardandi Noongar woman who moved east before Sian was born.
“She was here for the graduation ceremony, so proud.”
Graduating doctors on the Miroma Bunbilla Program at the University of NSW.
Having qualified for Sian the next step is an internship within the Hunter region heath system at a hospital as a junior doctor.
Two years as an intern in Newcastle is the next step, but Sian would like to specialise at some point in addictive medicine. “An area in need of appropriate, culturally safe care for our people.”
Or work in ED (Emergency department) where she can help improve the health and lifestyles of her mob.
“It’s something that interests me and it’s something where I can give back to my community,” she said.
Finding out Aboriginal people can become doctors has given Sian the pathway in life she was looking for.
The University of Newcastle celebrated the biggest ever cohort of Indigenous doctors graduating from the Joint Medical Program (JMP) this week, with 18 new doctors ready to bolster an empowered Indigenous health care network.
“Doing family and my people proud,” Sian told ibnewes.com.au. She certainly is.
