There are about 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors in Australia. That's less than 0.5 per cent of the workforce.
But Indigenous Australians make up three per cent of the population.
It's something the University of Newcastle, north of Sydney, is hoping to change.
The university runs an intensive five-day entry program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants who hope to become doctors every year, which pairs them with student mentors to successfully start medical school.
It is called Miroma Bunbilla, which means ‘permit - take care of’ in the Awabakal language.
Wanaruah woman Montana Shoesmith, 18, is one of the program's most recent prospective students.
The most recent participants of the Miroma Bunbilla program. Source: Facebook / The Wollotuka Institute
She hopes to forge a career in regional medicine and work with Aboriginal communities.
“Having that cultural connection with your doctor just builds so much trust and a culturally safe environment to feel safe talking about your health issues,” she tells SBS News.
Having that cultural connection with your doctor just builds so much trust. - Montana Shoesmith, 18
“The vast majority of Indigenous people are living out in the country, in regional and remote areas, and that’s the first place I’d go because that's where communities need my help.”
Scott Towers, 32, also hopes to gain entry to a medical degree via the program.
Montana Shoesmith with her mentor Michael McLean. Source: SBS News
He says his administration role at Maitland Hospital has helped him realise how vital Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation among doctors can be.
“It's understanding that it's very community-involved and that, given past instances, people might not be so forthcoming to come to a government institute and trust them with their lives,” he says.
“So it's very important that we step up and we say 'with a little bit of cultural knowledge, we can make this a really good experience for everyone'.”
Improving health outcomes
More than 100 Indigenous doctors have already graduated from the University of Newcastle’s medical program after completing Miroma Bunbilla, accounting for a quarter of all the Indigenous doctors nationwide.
The dean of the university's medical school, Brian Kelly, says the intensive entry program aims to overcome some of the things keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in regional and remote areas from attending university.
In 2020, the university extended the program to reach those outside of Newcastle.
“We’ve taken our program out into rural areas, so it's being conducted in a number of locations throughout New South Wales,” he says.
“One of the things that a medical school can do is not only train the next generation of doctors but also support them to become the leaders themselves, to be shaping and designing the types of medical services for Indigenous people.”
Indigenous Australians' lives, on average, are eight years shorter than the lives of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
Nathan Towney is the university's pro vice-chancellor of Indigenous strategy and leadership and says a larger Indigenous workforce is one of the most effective ways to change that.
“We know that the more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people we have that are leading medical services, that are providing healthcare, they have that understanding of community, they have that understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and needs and history, and the impact that has through lived experience,” he says.
“And that's something that non-Indigenous people really can't provide.”
Growth through mentorship
Awabakal man and fifth-year medical student Michael McLean is one of the program mentors.
He completed the Miroma Bunbilla program five years ago and says it made all the difference in helping him get into medicine.
Now, as he finishes his studies, he wants others to recognise the opportunities that are available to them and see more support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
“I just want to show people that you can make something of yourself," he says.
"And sometimes it just takes one person to say 'you can do this' and it can change the course of your life.”
