2019 recipients

Dr Lisa Bichard
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Scholarship

Dr Lisa Bichard grew up in the rural coastal town of Port Lincoln in the Eyre Peninsula. She was one of three daughters raised by a father who, together with his small family, immigrated from Guernsey in the English Channel Islands. Her mother's family come from along the Coorong but later relocated to the Eyre Peninsula following a death in the family. Her mother's love of painting colourful canvases and running ultra-marathons encourages Lisa to push forward, to always reach her potential and then go further. It was these two over-achieving, lateral thinkers that shaped her into the woman she is today. It has been their support and constant guidance, together with her older sisters, that have given her the courage to face the big challenges and strive towards her aspirations in the health industry. Lisa is extremely goal-orientated and is keen to return to her roots and give back to the community that she comes from in the future.

Dr Elkie Hull
Indigenous Health Scholarship for Paediatrics and Child Health

Dr Elkie Hull is an Advanced Trainee in Paediatrics and a proud Gamilaraay woman. She graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2009 and completed her resident years at the John Hunter Hospital. Elkie continued her training in Newcastle and presently works at the John Hunter Children's Hospital. During her days as a student and registrar, she has worked in many Indigenous communities, gaining invaluable experience with Indigenous health. It has also cemented her desire to continue to contribute to Indigenous health as a registrar and future paediatrician. With her training and experience in paediatric medicine, Elkie is excited to be able to contribute to Indigenous health by treating, empowering, educating and respecting indigenous children and their families. She feels that to help improve Indigenous health, it is important to work with young people to help them become healthy, resilient and educated adults who can contribute to making strong communities in the future.

Dr Monique Deanne Mackenzie (Ngati Tuwharetoa)
New Zealand Indigenous Health Scholarship

Dr Monique Deanne Mackenzie is of Tuwharetoa descent, Ngati Te Rangi Ita and Ngati Ruingarangi hapu Taupo, New Zealand. She is currently an Advanced Trainee in dermatology working at Waikato Hospital. She graduated from Otago University in 2006 and completed her house officer years at Wellington Hospital. Monique trained as a general practitioner with a special interest in skin cancer and dermoscopy in 2009 before completing her Fellowship with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in 2014. She was accepted onto the Basic Physician Training program at Waikato Hospital that same year and was successful in her RACP Written and Clinical Examinations in 2018. Monique has three children and will be the first RACP-trained Māori dermatologist in New Zealand.

Dr William Naughton
College Indigenous Health Scholarship

Dr William Naughton's family belongs to the Northern River Tribe from the Northern region of Tasmania. He studied Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) at Monash University, Victoria and graduated with honours in 2013. Following graduation, he was employed at Monash Health as a junior doctor and completed his Basic Physician training in 2017. In 2018, he commenced general medicine Advanced Physician Training and was seconded to work at Alice Springs Hospital as the cardiology registrar. In this role, William was fortunate to undertake extensive work in outreach clinics at remote central Australian communities and assist treatment of the significant challenges caused by Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease. William will be commencing his infectious diseases Advanced Training in Victoria. His experience in Alice Springs has further reinforced his desire to pursue a career with dual training in infectious diseases and general medicine.

Dr Brett Shannon
Indigenous Health Scholarship for Occupational & Environmental Medicine

Dr Brett Shannon is a Ngugi descendant of the Quandamooka people from Moreton and Stradbroke Islands. He currently resides in Brisbane and is a Director of the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health service (Brisbane ATSICHS) and of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH). Brett is a medical practitioner working for Resile Pty Ltd as an occupational and environmental registrar. Prior to completing his medicine studies (MBBS) at the University of Queensland, he completed degrees including Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Applied Science (QUT) and Masters of Applied Epidemiology (ANU). Brett has a passion for working with community to improve health outcomes and workforce development, and hopes to finish his AFOEM training and continue to work on expanding clinical services provided to Indigenous people in a range of areas.

Dr Simone Watkins
New Zealand Pacific Islander Health Scholarship

Dr Simone Watkins is a paediatric trainee of Samoan descent. She was awarded a Chancellor's Award for Top Māori and Pacific Scholar by the University of Auckland to undertake a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. She graduated from medicine degree with distinction in 2011. After completing her initial junior doctor years in Whangarei, she moved to Auckland to train in paediatrics. Simone also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Health and a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education. Simone currently works part-time at Starship Hospital and part-time for The University of Auckland, teaching and co-directing the RACP written exam. Her interests include teaching, professionalism, doctor-patient communication, Pacific health and advocating for ethnic minorities, and promoting health and wellbeing. Simone is married with two boys, one of which has Achondroplasia. Her future plans include completing her paediatric training and continuing to teach and research. She has plans to initiate a PhD looking into families’ experience of difficult news delivery from medical professionals.

Dr Amelia Tekiteki
New Zealand Pacific Islander Health Scholarship

Past recipients

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