Unique NT Medical Program offers Indigenous students pathway

Sophie didn’t think she was “smart enough” to become a doctor – thanks to a unique pathway, she will hit the study books this month.

Left to right: Keara Mack, Sophie L'Estrange and Kassandra Bonner-Waia of Flinders University.

Indigenous woman Sophie L’Estrange didn’t think she was “smart enough” to become a doctor, but a unique pathway means the dream can become reality.

This month, Ms L’Estrange embarked upon a journey with a record high 41 other students – nine of First Nations descent – to study medicine through the Northern Territory Medical Program, available at Flinders University.

Ms L’Estrange previously worked as an oral health professional and completed the Indigenous Entry Stream last year to ensure she could move onto further study.

“Being a doctor was intriguing, but I never thought that I was smart enough or I’d have to move to the city to study – it never fit into my lifestyle or where I was at in my life stage,” she said.

“With both programs being offered locally, I did not need to uproot my family and can plan our future in the NT where we are.”

Left to right: Jahdai Vigona, Sophie L'Estrange and Jason Baird. Photo: Supplied.

Program Director Kath Martin explained the IES was a pathway with “proven success” to ensure First Nations people could excel in the medical world.

“The IES is an alternative pathway with proven success at attracting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who perhaps wouldn’t have considered the possibility of becoming a doctor and preparing them for success,” she said.

“If we can impact the medical workforce of the future by training more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as doctors who provide greater cultural safety for First Nation’s patients, that’s going to help to close the gap and bring much better outcomes for their community.”

As part of the program, IES students are introduced to the cultural, academic and social support staff and programs available to them should they progress on to study medicine.

Rural and Remote Health Deputy Dean Professor James Smith said the NTMP’s success was a credit to Territorians.

“We are delighted to welcome a record number of students this year, up from 30 in 2023 and 24 in 2022,” he said.

“This is an acknowledgment of Flinders University’s commitment to facilitate and deliver an outstanding program in the NT, taught by local staff and trained in local facilities.”

Professor Smith confirmed additional funding had been granted for the program.

“To receive additional funding is a vote of trust from the governments, and an appreciation of our past work. To date, the program has produced over 200 graduates and more than half of them are now in the NT workforce,” he said.

“These individuals play a massive role in the local community and Flinders is proud to equip them with knowledge and skills to do that.”

The bullet point summary was created with the assistance of AI technology (PaLM2) then edited and approved for publication by an editor.