UNE’s first female aboriginal student to graduate with a Bachelor of Medicine, initially dropped out of school in grade 11 and went to work in shearing sheds.
Wiradjuri woman Kerby Siemsen had to undertake a TAFE tertiary preparation course before starting university and admits that her decision to study medicine at UNE just kind of happened.
“I didn’t really know any doctors before starting university and I didn’t have a doctor type role model. I had the intention of studying to become a dentist before I realised that being a dentist, would be pretty boring. I thought medicine had more variety, let’s do that and here I am. I just gave it a go.”
While Kerby concedes that it all felt unreal at the beginning of her studies and that she sometimes felt she didn’t belong that too has changed.
"It's not our job to prove to others that we belong, it’s our job to prove it to ourselves." 
Kerby is only the second Aboriginal student to graduate from UNE’s School of Rural Medicine since it began in 2008 and she acknowledges the support UNE’s Oorala Aboriginal Centre provided during her studies.
“The student support officer at Oorala was a fantastic mentor and a great person to talk to as well as a shoulder to cry on. She was very empowering and even after a five minute chat I felt motivated.”
After graduating in 2018 Kerby, moved to Wagga Wagga to complete her two-year internship.
“My goal for what I want to achieve with my degree is helping those who are disadvantaged in rural communities. I want to be able provide quality healthcare to rural people as it’s often hard to come by in some places. Being able to achieve this has been a dream since I started University.”
The challenge
Increasing Indigenous participation in Higher Education.
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Impact on students
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