First Nations Cancer Scholarship Recipients

Liam is driven by community, determined to bring essential oral rehabilitation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders affected by cancers in remote and rural communities as there limited, if any, prosthodontists regularly servicing remote Queensland communities. Through his Doctorate, Liam will develop advanced skills in both fixed and removable prosthodontics that will allow him to treat patients who have been impacted by oral cancer or undergone significant oral restructure after oral cancer treatment.

Halijah spent her childhood in a small town 100km outside of Darwin. Her PhD research, titled 'Psychosocial Care of First Nations women diagnosed with breast cancer in Queensland, Australia', aims to provide evidence of the psychosocial factors impacting cancer care and cancer outcomes among First Nations women with breast cancer, particularly as it relates to screening uptake, early diagnosis and access to optimal treatment.

Since a young age, Hannah has been deeply involved in her community and committed to giving back. She is focused strongly on improving health outcomes for other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through education and health promotion. Completing a Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology will enable her to build expertise in delivering tailored exercise-based prescription for cancer management, expanding her ability to support cancer prevention and survivorship.

Jacinta is driven by her strong connection to community and is committed to improving cancer outcomes for First Nations people. She recently completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Health Promotion) and is commencing a Master of Philosophy by Research, with a conditional pathway to upgrade to a PhD. Her postgraduate research will focus on enhancing skin cancer awareness and prevention among Aboriginal children, young people, and families, with a strong emphasis on community-led approaches and the development of culturally relevant sun safety education.

Brodie was raised on Kalkadoon Country in Mount Isa and is set to complete his final year of his Doctor of Medicine degree at Griffith University. Brodie’s decision to pursue medicine was influenced by his uncle’s experience of geographical isolation from the healthcare system and Country while managing a cancer diagnosis. These experiences have reinforced his decision to become a practitioner and researcher focusing on oncology and improving access to on-Country cancer prevention, screening and treatment services.

Eden grew up in Lutruwita, Tasmania, and now lives on Gadigal Country, Sydney. Entering her second year of medicine at the University of New South Wales, Eden is passionate about becoming a research-focused neuro-oncological clinician. She aims to contribute to establishing regional and remote community neuro-oncology outreach clinics to promote early detection and the development of sustainable healthcare relationships with community, as well as undertaking genomic research to understand the unique biology of cancers impacting First Nations peoples to inform the development of targeted treatments.

Kayla grew up in the Mallee region in Victoria and is now entering her second year of study at Flinders University. Having begun her career as a registered nurse interested in childhood brain cancer, she decided to pursue a Doctor of Medicine when her dad got diagnosed with cancer. She wants to support health practitioners in delivering cancer education programs informed by local community priorities, focusing on early detection, prevention, and patient-centered culturally embedded practice.

Having grown up in Brisbane, Khwanruethai will begin their PhD focusing on “Cancer Screening at the Intersection: supporting LGTBQISB+ First Nations peoples’ access to culturally safe, sexuality and gender-affirming cervical screening” at Australian National University. Their research aims to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of these critical services and will contribute to developing policies and practices that meet the needs of LGBTQISB+ First Nations peoples.

Kas grew up in Cairns and Sydney and is now starting her final year of medicine at the University of Sydney, Kas plans to pursue a career in gynaecological oncology practice and research. She aims to address inequities experienced by First Nations women in cancer care by providing cultural safe care and increasing participation and access to early detection services, such as HPV screening and self-collected HPV tests.