Meet the Maryborough woman on mission to improve Indigenous health

Maryborough mum Sharlea Nicholson, is furthering her education and gaining more clinical qualifications to fulfil her destiny to help improve the wellbeing of indigenous Australians.

Maryborough mum Sharlea Nicholson is focused on improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Sharlea Nicholson is walking from the grounds of the Fraser Coast campus of the University of Sunshine Coast (USC), and into the beginning of her career.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Nursing Science, the Maryborough mum is keen to start her graduate position with Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS).

Her mind is filled with goals, but one goal is greater than most.

A Mununjali nation member, she shares a connection with the Butchulla and Gubbi Gubbi people through her partner and children and the 33-year-old is set to look into project opportunities in Indigenous health.

“My main motivation for starting higher education was that I wanted to do more for my people – I felt it was my destiny to do so,” said Sharlea.

Maryborough mum Sharlea Nicholson is driven to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Formerly working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care, Sharlea noticed something she couldn’t forget.

“I identified a lack of Aboriginal nurses working in health and felt that by gaining clinical qualifications I could support my people in improving their wellbeing,” she said.

“I had also witnessed first-hand the dire impacts of chronic health conditions that impacted on my family and been confronted with the harsh reality of a shortened life expectancy for my people.”

Sharlea wants to focus on the high suicide rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“I’ve lost a close family member to suicide and have seen the pain and suffering my family went through, and still goes through,” she said.

“This has motivated me to really unpack what’s happening within our communities when it comes to suicide. It’s an incredibly disheartening and a harsh reality for us.”

Looking back on her hard-work and studies, Sharlea shared a few highlights of her USC journey.

These included an overseas clinical nursing placement and securing a competitive national Indigenous scholarship.

“My desire to help improve health outcomes in my community contributed to receiving a Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship, which aims to encourage Indigenous undergraduates studying health-related degrees,” she said.

And her trio of girls are never far from her mind.

“I feel the importance of being a good role model and believe that we have an obligation to ensure our children are given equal educational opportunities,” she said.

“I want to show my young daughters that they too can aspire to be whatever it is that their heart’s desire.”

Originally published as Meet the Maryborough woman on mission to improve Indigenous health