Scholarships pay homage to pioneering Aboriginal educator

On Saturday night in Darwin, on Larrakia Country, a group of general practice registrars were honoured for their commitment to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and rural and remote health, at the General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) NT Annual Registrars Forum.
 
At the event, GPRA presented its inaugural scholarships to six registrars, including two recipients of the 2024 Ada Wilmadda Parry Aboriginal Health Scholarship.
 
Ada Parry, a Marrithiel and Nganghikurrungurr woman from Woodygupildiyerre in the Daly River region, is the Cultural and Education Advisor with RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
 
The scholarship is named in her honour for being a pioneer and long-time advocate for the importance of cultural awareness and training in general practice.
 
Ms Parry has lived in Darwin since 1985 and reflects on her own journey in the training space from back in 1996 when she was the first and only Aboriginal cultural educator for the college, employed by Dr Sam Heard, current RACGP NT Chair. 
 
‘I have had an incredible journey working in general practice education here in the Northern Territory because of him, and support from my husband and children,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘Besides having our first lot of general practice registrars, we also took medical students from the southern universities, and the first cohort was from Sydney University.’
 
In that group was Dr Tamsin Cockayne, who came up for a four-week placement in Nhulunbuy in northeast Arnhem Land. After her placement, Dr Cockayne went back to Sydney University to finish medical school before returning to Darwin to take up her general practice training.
 
‘She was the very first medical student who returned and went back to Nhulunbuy to begin and complete her training,’ Ms Parry said.
 
‘Fast forward to 2004, and Tamsin came to Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE) as the manager for medical and cultural education.
 
‘I left in about 2011 while she stayed on, and it was after that she created the Ada Wilmadda Parry Scholarship for registrars interested in pursuing work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health settings. 
 
‘To this day, Tamsin and I remain close friends and see each other at medical conferences.’
 

 Ada Parry with Dr Tamsin Cockayne, who created the Ada Wilmadda Parry Aboriginal Health Scholarship. (Image: supplied)

Speaking at the awards ceremony on Saturday, GPRA President Dr Karyn Matterson said it was an honour to bring together a dedicated group of registrars and guest speakers.
 
‘We are incredibly proud of the success of the first-ever GPRA NT Annual Registrars Forum and to have had the opportunity to honour these exceptional registrars,’ she said.
 
‘Each recipient has shown remarkable dedication to their work, and we are excited to see the positive impact they will continue to make.’
 
The two recipients of the 2024 Ada Wilmadda Parry Aboriginal Health Scholarship are Dr Ella Heggen and Dr Anna Walmsley, each receiving $5000 to support their training journey and work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in the Northern Territory.
 
‘I feel very grateful to be recognised … It is an area of general practice that has so many challenges, but equally, I find it so rewarding,’ Dr Heggen said.
 
‘Living in a remote community comes with many additional costs, such as the higher price of groceries and the cost of travelling to see family and friends. This award will assist with these financial pressures, as well as helping me to invest back into the community I live and work in.’
 
Having done most of her general practice training in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) setting, Dr Heggen currently works part-time at the Gove District Hospital emergency department in Nhulunbuy and at Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation in Yirrkala, and plans to continue working in ACCHOs in the long term.
 
‘I feel passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and I believe the ACCHO structure of primary care is more holistic and team-based than private general practice,’ she said.
 
For Dr Walmsley, who is currently practising at Pandanus Medical NT, receiving the scholarship is ‘a huge honour’.
 
‘The research I have done highlights the systemic racism and barriers that are the lived experience of my First Nations patients and colleagues that I don’t and can never share in,’ she said.
 
‘The financial help means so much to me right now, and I hope I can continue to learn and walk alongside people to use my privilege to help them choose a path to health as they see it.’
 
Previously awarded by former regional training organisation NTGPE, this year marks the first time GPRA has awarded the two registrars.
 
The annual scholarship in Ada Parry’s name will continue to support general practice registrars who are committed to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and advancing cultural understanding between patients and GPs.
 
Dr Matterson said the scholarships play a crucial role in encouraging doctors to work and thrive in the Northern Territory, particularly in remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and are an important part of helping to boost the local workforce.
 
‘The success of this inaugural event sets a strong foundation for future forums,’ she said.
 
‘We look forward to continuing to support the growth and development of general practice registrars in the NT.’
 
The full list of 2024 NT GPRA scholarship recipients is available on the GPRA website.
 
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health cultural training general practice registrars GPRA Northern Territory scholarships