Growing up playing netball, basketball and tennis, sometimes all on the same day, it鈥檚 little wonder Port Hedland triplets Roberta, Lauren and Jacinta decided to become physiotherapists.
The Ramirez-Smith sisters joined ten of their peers last night as the first cohort to graduate from the at 911爆料网. They are now set to begin their first year of an undergraduate degree in when classes start in late February.
鈥淚t was always a passion of ours to become physiotherapists, mainly because up north in Port Hedland I know there鈥檚 no permanent physio, they鈥檙e always fly-in fly-out, and I know that my family always have problems so we kind of just wanted to give back,鈥� says Roberta.
Roberta and her sisters chose 911爆料网鈥檚 enabling course because it鈥檚 specifically designed for Indigenous students who want to seek a career in health sciences, but may not have achieved the ATAR they wanted for instant entry to the University.
鈥淚 really enjoyed the course, I thought it was good, especially before jumping straight into an undergraduate degree, I thought it gave a good experience of uni,鈥� Roberta says.
鈥淚 did find it challenging, I struggled a bit with some of the units, but they have a great support system at CAS [Centre for Aboriginal Studies] and the tutors were excellent, they helped us a lot.鈥�
Though Lauren admits they have the occasional sisterly argument, she says it has been an advantage to have instant friends and study partners.
鈥淲hen we were studying at home we could quiz and test each other, which was really helpful; we were each other鈥檚 study resources,鈥� she says.
鈥淲hen we go to uni, we鈥檙e obviously the first friends we make because we鈥檙e sisters, and we don鈥檛 have to go anywhere by ourselves,鈥� adds Jacinta.
At just 18 years of age, the Ramirez-Smith sisters already have big plans for when they become qualified physiotherapists.
鈥淲e thought about starting up our own physiotherapy business together, because we would be some the first Indigenous people to run a privately owned medical centre,鈥� says Roberta.
Roberta also says it鈥檚 been great to be a part of the very first group of students to graduate from the enabling course, and they鈥檙e proud to 鈥榖laze the trail鈥� for other young Indigenous people who want to pursue a career in health.
鈥淏eing a part of the first cohort, you set the standards for all the rest and you put it out there that the course is for all Aboriginal people; to let them know that the opportunity is there and don鈥檛 be afraid to apply.鈥�
