
Passion and a commitment to positive change fuel medical aspirations
[supplied by Sala Mkoka]

Image: supplied
As a strong believer in education, striving towards positive change and staying grounded in one’s roots, CQUniversity medical student Jay Warcon is determined to keep the fire burning until he sees the gap closed in Indigenous health in Australia.
Growing up local to the Central Queensland region, Jay adopted a great sense of appreciation for education as witnessed through the lives of his parents, instilling in him a desire and discipline within his studies – which has proved pivotal to his journey through the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), CQUniversity’s Regional Medical Pathway program.
As a proud Darumbal man, Jay is determined to work towards closing the gap for fellow Indigenous Australians, and is proud of the fact that he will have a unique perspective to offer that is still largely lacking in the medical society today.
“Being Indigenous, I’m very aware of the health gap between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians, and so trying to close the gap is a major factor in me wanting to become a doctor,” Jay said.
“And by being ‘blak, loud and proud’, it means I am not ashamed of my Indigenous heritage – I have a unique perspective to offer compared to most of the doctors in Australia, and it also means that I am willing to share my views and give potential insight onto matters that others might not have or see.”
Jay said that it’s his passion and remaining grounded in his roots that have kept him in good stead and driven him forward in his goals, and is determined to continue to take the steps forward towards fostering positive change in the lives of those around him.
On reflecting on the theme of NAIDOC 2024, Jay said:
“To me, ‘keep the fire burning’ means that the passion that we had when we first set out to do something in life should never be lost – we must always remember our roots and where we came from so that we remain grounded, which will then allow us to keep the passion and keep the fire burning.
“It also means that during our everyday lives, we always have opportunities to make a positive change, however big or small, and in doing so, the fire will not be extinguished.
“I hope to instil in future generations a belief that they can overcome difficulties and make a positive contribution to society. I want them to know that no matter what happens in their lives, especially if they are Indigenous and are facing problems such as intergenerational trauma, that they are able to overcome it and can strive to pursue their career aspirations.”
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