I am passionate about helping and caring for Aboriginal women in rural Australia. Being Aboriginal and growing up in numerous rural locations, I have a desire to return and be of service wherever I can.
By Sofie Gilmartin
My name is Sofie Gilmartin. I am a proud Yamatji woman. I grew up in Albany, a small town in Southwest Western Australia.
I am studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with an assured pathway into Medicine at the University of Western Australia. This is my first year of being an AVACT scholar. I am very grateful for the support AVCAT, and my RSL Australia Captain Reg Saunders MBE Scholarship provides me to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor and specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
I am passionate about helping and caring for Aboriginal women in rural Australia. Being Aboriginal and growing up in numerous rural locations, I have a desire to return and be of service wherever I can.
Through holistically caring for Aboriginal women and their families, I hope to be part of a support network for women and equip their children with the best chance to thrive in this rapidly changing environment.
Prenatal and antenatal care is imperative for the health and emotional wellbeing, and directly affects the health of their babies. I hope to bridge the gap in our society and empower and improve the health status of Indigenous women and our children.
Before I moved to St Catherine’s College and joined the Dandjoo Darbalung program, I felt lost within my identity of being Aboriginal. By immersing myself in the program, I have found myself. I am proud of my culture.
NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate our rich culture. A time to celebrate my people’s achievements. A time to embrace and learn about our history and remember our ancestors.
This year the NAIDOC Week theme is ‘Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up’. The theme resonates with me, as it encourages all Aboriginal people to rise and fight for what’s right and to support change within our society. To me, NAIDOC Week means being proud of who I am, where I’ve come from, and continuing the story of our ancestors.
Sofie was awarded the RSL Australia Captain Reg Saunders MBE Scholarship in 2022. Captain Reg Saunders was the first Aboriginal soldier to reach the rank of Officer.