Celebrating Our 2026 Indigenous Medical Scholarship Recipients
We are proud to introduce our 2026 scholarship recipients: Ethan Rose, Ella Kerr, and Jack Barnett, who have all commenced the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery degree this year and share a proud Indigenous background.
Ethan Rose is guided by a long-standing respect for community healthcare leaders, driven by a simple wish to support people through their most challenging moments and be a trusted face when it matters most.
Why medicine, and what does this scholarship mean to you?
For me there wasn't a specific personal moment that influenced me in choosing medicine, rather it has been an accumulation of experiences. I have seen the impact that healthcare professionals can have on people's lives, and admire their ability to support and guide individuals through some of the most difficult and significant moments of their lives. Their role in a community as a trusted leader is something I have always looked up to. Medicine provides an opportunity for me to integrate my academic interests with a career that makes a significant difference and connect with incredible individuals. Receiving this scholarship is extremely impactful as it allows me to purely focus on my studies. It will allow me to more freely develop into the healthcare professional that I desire to become. The support from the university means a lot to me, and it is support that I hope to pass on during my medical career.
What kind of doctor do you hope to become?
I hope to become an approachable, supportive and compassionate doctor. I hope to become a doctor that patients feel comfortable trusting and confident in when they are seeking support. I would like my patients to feel heard and reassured. I wish to provide the highest quality care and utilise my knowledge to offer the best healthcare experience possible. I see it as an absolute privilege to potentially one day be able to work with patients through challenging and significant periods of their lives and contribute towards better outcomes for the community.
How do you recharge outside of your studies?
Family and friends are extremely important to me, so I look to spend time with them as much as possible. Outside of that I have a range of interests that allow me to recharge. Both watching and taking part in sports allow me to clear my mind and stay active. I really enjoy good quality food and enjoying it with those important to me. From a creative viewpoint, I have a great interest in films, as well as playing and listening to music. These activities allow me to take a step back from study, recharge and feel connected with others.
Ella Kerr, a proud Quandamooka woman, draws on her clinical background in genetic counselling to advocate for patient-centred, culturally safe care that makes every individual feel genuinely heard.
Why medicine, and what does this scholarship mean to you?
My pathway to medicine wasn't a ‘traditional’ one. I always knew that I wanted to work in healthcare and help people. For me that started with genetic counselling, where working closely with patients and families showed me how much I valued the clinical side of healthcare. I realised that I wanted to broaden my scope of practice and take a more active role in decision-making around patient care.
As a proud Quandamooka woman, I have also seen the importance of healthcare that is shaped by culture, community and genuine partnership. These collective experiences drove me to pursue medicine so that I can combine medical knowledge with advocacy and patient-centred care.
Receiving the Jessica King Scholarship is incredibly meaningful. Medical school is a significant commitment, and this scholarship provides practical support that allows me to focus on my studies and on becoming the kind of doctor I aspire to be, while working towards one day giving back to the communities that have shaped me.
What kind of doctor do you hope to become?
I hope to become a compassionate doctor who combines strong clinical knowledge with culturally responsive care. I also want to bring the communication skills and patient-centred approach I developed through genetic counselling into my medical practice. Ultimately, I want every patient to feel heard, respected, and involved in decisions about their own healthcare, regardless of their background or circumstances.
I am particularly passionate about improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and addressing the inequities that continue to exist within our healthcare system. My background in genetics has also sparked an interest in how emerging technologies can improve prevention, diagnosis and personalised care, as long as they are implemented equitably and in partnership with communities. Through my work, I hope to support individual patients while also contributing advocacy and a healthcare system that is more accessible, culturally safe, and equitable for everyone.
How do you recharge outside of your studies?
One thing I was told early on was not to let medicine take over your life, so I try to balance study and fun as best as I can. I love running and Pilates, and I find exercise is a great way to clear my head and reset. I also really value spending quality time with my friends and family, which helps me maintain balance and perspective.
All of these things give me some separation from study and remind me that there is a lot more to life than medical school, which makes it much easier to come back to study feeling refreshed.
Jack Barnett approaches medicine with a heart for service, inspired by a pivotal chat with an Elder to focus on rural healthcare, community trust, and seeing the person behind the illness.
Why medicine, and what does this scholarship mean to you?
I don’t think there was one pivotal moment that made me choose medicine, but rather a collection of experiences over many years. I first began thinking seriously about medicine in early high school, and that eventually led me to undertake the Bachelor of Health Science at ANU as my pathway into medical school.
Before starting medicine, though, I did have a period where I questioned whether it was definitely the path I wanted to pursue. A conversation with Aunty Anne during that time made me think much more deeply about what I wanted to achieve with my life, where I could do the most good, and where I could have the greatest agency to make a difference.
I think ultimately that is what medicine represents to me. There are many reasons I am drawn to it, but at its core, medicine is about service. It’s about giving back to our communities and being there for people at times when they may be at their most vulnerable. The opportunity to form those relationships, earn people’s trust and genuinely help them is something I think is incredibly special.
Receiving this scholarship is a huge support in pursuing that goal. Medical school is a long and demanding journey, and having that support allows me to focus more fully on becoming the kind of doctor I hope to be.
What kind of doctor do you hope to become?
It is still very early in my medical training, so I am trying to keep an open mind about specialty and take every opportunity to learn about the different paths medicine can offer. I am particularly interested in rural medicine and potentially rural general practice because of the breadth of the work, the continuity of care, and the relationships doctors can build with their communities.
More than any particular specialty, though, I hope to become a doctor who people feel comfortable trusting and talking to. I want to be someone who takes the time to understand the person behind the illness and recognises that good healthcare is not just about diagnosing and treating disease, but also understanding the circumstances in which people live.
Long term, I would love to contribute to rural and regional healthcare and give back to communities like those that shaped me.
How do you recharge outside of your studies?
I try to make sure medicine doesn’t completely take over everything else I enjoy doing. I go to the gym most days, enjoy running and long walks, and I bake pretty much every week, which has become a good way of switching my brain off from studying for a while.
Spending time with my friends and family and staying connected with community are probably the biggest things that keep me grounded. I also enjoy music, social events and just making time for the hobbies I had before starting medicine.
I’ve found that it doesn’t always have to be a choice between studying and having a life outside medicine either. Some of my favourite study sessions are just meeting friends at a café, getting a coffee and studying together. Medical school is demanding, but I think maintaining those relationships and continuing to do the things I enjoy actually makes me much better equipped to handle it.