Karen Taylor, medical student, Griffith University
AMA Indigenous People’s Medical Scholarship recipient Karen Taylor, 45, is a heartbeat away from becoming a doctor.
Q. You’re one of a select few. AMA statistics indicate there are only 140 doctors and 137 medical students in Australia who identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. How can we get more Indigenous doctors?
A. Accepting that you don’t have to come from a background with doctors as parents is important; and that’s happening in the schools.
But retention is as important as recruitment. Medicine is hard. For mature age students with children of their own it becomes really tough financially. There’s no chance to hold a job and study; and family life is affected. We can manage to repay HECS once we’re working, but we need to be able to afford to live while studying. Scholarships like the AMA’s are few and far between.
Q. Medicine wasn’t your original dream and it isn’t your first degree either. What happened along the way?
A. When I was at school, I dreamt of being a vet. The guidance officer discouraged me. I took that as meaning I wasn’t smart enough. I worked in different jobs, travelled, and at 28 finally decided to do something with my life: I did high school chemistry at night class and went on to become a high school maths and biology teacher.
Q. So many different experiences have come together?
A. Nothing in life is a waste. Everything is a lesson.
Q. What of your future?
A. I’d like to gain some experience in a remote Indigenous community and work as a GP, with a particular interest in the health of mothers and children.
More information www.ama.com.au
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