August 2014
Skilled Medical is pleased to have been advised by the University of NSW Scholarships Office that it has awarded the 2014 Skilled Medical Award for Advancement in Indigenous Health to Jessica Wade a final year Medical Student at UNSW.
Jessica Wade is from the Nyoongar community in South West Perth. Since moving to Sydney to study at UNSW Medicine, she has been an active member of the Indigenous community in South Western Sydney.
Jessica is passionate about improving Indigenous health in her community and across Australia. During her third year of study in 2012, Jessica undertook a research project examining the cultural barrier to smoking cessation during pregnancy in Aboriginal women. This research paper was part of the Gaduga study – a longitudinal study looking at maternal and child health in an urban Indigenous population in South Western Sydney. The study explored factors that influence smoking behaviours and attitudes, and identified a number of physical, emotional and psychosocial factors that lead to these behaviours and attitudes. In addition, Jessica is currently undertaking her elective medical placement at an Aboriginal medical service in far north Queensland, in order to gain hands on experience in Indigenous health.
In the future, Jessica aspires to complete a Masters of Public Health once she graduates from medicine at the end of 2014.
Jessica said “Having the opportunity to study medicine and to be involved in various aboriginal projects that improve the health of my people is beyond fulfilling, Providing hope, connectedness and positive health to my people is what strengthens me”.
The Award is worth $5000 and is provided on an annual basis to a medical student selected after undertaking work in their local community, or communities more generally, that help to improve Aboriginal health.
Dr David Campbell FRACMA the Director at Skilled Medical said he was delighted that Jessica Wade had received the Award. He said her work in local communities has been exemplary and that he is confident that Jessica will help bring about positive changes to Aboriginal community health during her medical career.
"We are proud to be associated with the UNSW and the recipients in funding this Award, " Dr Campbell said, "and we look forward to it continuing in a small way to help more young indigenous doctors graduate from their medical courses, and in turn help to turnaround Aboriginal disadvantage in Australia."
The Skilled Medical Award for Advancement in Indigenous Health at the UNSW is funded through the company's Social Responsibility Program
Skilled Medical UNSW 2014 Award Winner, Dr Jessica Wade MBBS