The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

Dr Marjad Page, a First Nations GP case study

Discover what a career in primary health care has to offer. As a GP, you will have an opportunity to build relationships and solve different problems every day. Make a difference for your mob and join the team.

2:05

So my name is Marjid, I'm a Christian and I'm a calculating one year young leader boy, born and bred in Mount Isa. 

Yeah.

So my role, I'm a GP.

Some people call me a real generalist also.

So I'm a specialist GP and I have a few advanced skills in different areas like anaesthetics, so for example, and obstetrics.

And yeah, that's how I'm able to help help our people.

So my journey to become a doctor was a little bit different.

I firstly, I went into a battle of human movement science and I majored in Japanese and I was fortunate enough to get some good grades there. 

And yeah, basically my name got out there and I was able to apply for medicine. 

And James Cook University was very beautiful in nature and allowed me the opportunity to become a become a doctor after their medical school training. 

Yeah, look, the people are essential. 

And it's really important for them to go to Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander practitioners for many reasons. 

And the main reason, I think, is that that connection. 

We can talk about land, we can talk about culture and religion. 

We can talk about a lot of things. 

But it all starts with the connection and then walking through the doors and seeing us and, you know, that little nod to know who you are and where you come from, I think, you know, that's, that's priceless. 

And, and you know, that's already starting the health journey and, and, and improving, you know, their their mindset. 

So we need as much help as we can get. 

We need our First Nation people to continue to step up like we have been improve health of our mob and our communities and have a brighter future. 

For anyone considering a career in primary healthcare, I say the time is now. 

The time is now for you to help your people, your mob, your community, but also to help all other not only First Nation people but non First Nation people because we're all in this together. 

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