Dr Tahni Derbin’s path to medicine began with personal experiences. A proud Dunghutti woman, Tahni witnessed the impact of a health system that often lacked culturally sensitive care for her family. That early insight shaped a lifelong commitment.

“Initially, I was drawn to general nursing,” Tahni says. “But learning about the high rates of child suicide in Indigenous communities shifted my focus to mental health.” From a Master’s in Mental Health Nursing to graduating medical school, every step has been driven by purpose.

Supported by an Aspen Medical Foundation scholarship, Tahni is now practising in Queensland’s public health system and planning her next chapter - a General Practitioner (GP) training program with an emphasis on mental health and Indigenous care. The program is a government-funded vocational training program designed to train doctors to become fully qualified GPs in Australia and is delivered by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The program combines hospital-based experience with supervised community placements, leading to Fellowship and the ability to practise independently as a GP.

Her first year as a doctor has been a steep but rewarding learning curve. “The best part? Meeting mob in hospital and being able to say, ‘I’m Aboriginal too.’ It creates an instant connection. I can bring cultural care into clinical care.”

But the journey isn’t without its challenges. “When treatments don’t work or patients choose not to follow care plans, it’s tough. And there’s pressure too - being one of only approximately 800 First Nations doctors means I’m often the only one in the room. There’s cultural loading too - educating colleagues can be exhausting.”

Tahni’s story is a powerful reminder of why representation matters. With passion and lived experience, she’s reshaping how care is delivered to communities that need it most.