RACGP celebrates addition to Aboriginal workforce

Victoria’s RACGP Fellowship ceremony has brought with it a significant milestone, with two New Fellows identifying as Aboriginal among the almost 150 new GPs.
 
As one of the 149 New Fellows and four Rural Generalist (RG) Fellows awarded, Dr Sharni Wilkes received both Fellowship of the RACGP and RG Fellowship at the Melbourne ceremony, held on Wurundjeri Country.
 
A Yamatji woman, Dr Wilkes’ Illawadjardi family group has strong connections to the Malgana lands and waters of Shark Bay, Western Australia, on Yamatji Country.
 
She told newsGP that receiving her Fellowship leaves her feeling ‘excited, relieved, and hopeful’, particularly in the face of recent adversity.
 
‘I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a legendary team around me throughout my training time and beyond,’ Dr Wilkes said.
 
‘I lost my younger sister to domestic violence-related suicide as a GPT1. Then, I had only been back at work for a week when our cousin took her own life.
 
‘There were many days that I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.’
 
But she acknowledges the ‘great team’ of friends, family, and RACGP medical educators who rallied around her.
 
‘[They] got me through my training and exams,’ she said.
 
‘It still feels surreal that I was able to take the Fellowship stage, and I am sure it will feel this way for some time to come.’
 
Dr Wilkes has recently been accepted as a supervisor with both the RACGP and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and hopes to be able to help ‘positively shape’ future GPs’ experiences throughout their training and beyond.
 
‘The challenges I experienced during my training showed me that with time and community, life can get better, and hopefully this gives hope to any registrars facing similar adversities,’ she said.


New Fellows Dr Sharni Wilkes (left) and Dr Nino Scuderi, who also sits on the RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council, at the recent Victoria ceremony.

The 24 August Fellowship ceremony, orated by Professor Moyez Jiwa, was hosted by RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Chair Dr Karen Nicholls, and President Dr Michael Wright, alongside other RACGP leaders.

Dr Muñoz congratulated the state’s newest GPs.
 
‘We welcome Victoria’s new GPs and Rural Generalists whom we recognise for their hard work across their journey to Fellowship, and their expertise in providing care to their community,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘This is a proud moment, and the college is particularly proud to celebrate the achievements of our two newest Aboriginal GPs.
 
‘This marks a significant milestone in strengthening the workforce to ensure essential, culturally safe care is delivered, as well as building our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce – both big things to celebrate.’
 
The RACGP recently celebrated growth in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical workforce, with a record amount registered across Australia. Endorsement of a new guide also marked a positive boost to this workforce in providing culturally safe general practices.
 
For Dr Wilkes, her interest in rural general practice began early on as a medical student.
 
And with an RG Fellowship now under her belt, she applies her Additional Rural Skills Training – vital to rural communities – where she currently works in Warrnambool, on Gunditjmara Country, after some time working in different areas across Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
 
‘I truly love the flexibility and diversity of medicine we are exposed to in general practice,’ Dr Wilkes said.
 
‘I work in two clinics: our local Aboriginal community controlled health organisation and an alcohol and other drugs clinic. Every day is different, and it is often organised chaos. I am constantly learning and kept on my toes.
 
‘I love being rural, and having a background in paediatrics [FARGP] means I often see entire generations of families which is a massive privilege.
 
‘We are able to have long-term relationships with our patients, and follow them through all facets of life.’
 
And optimism continues to shape Dr Wilkes’ plans.
 
‘I am most looking forward to spending some more time enjoying laughs over dinners, camping trips and gardening with my four-legged helper, my rescued blue heeler,’ she said.
 
‘There are a lot of challenges facing general practice in Australia, but I still couldn’t imagine doing anything else.’
 
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs FRACGP New Fellows RACGP Fellowship Rural Generalist