Meet Samantha Katon from Yuin nation, second-year medical student at University of Newcastle and member of the College’s Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF). 

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi I'm Sam, I'm a second-year medical student, and I'm really passionate about becoming a psychiatrist. I'm from Yuin nation, and currently study on Awabakal country. Outside of uni, I love to spend time with my family and friends. 

2. What does this year’s theme — ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’ — mean to you personally and professionally?

Strength – to me means having grit and showing up and being able to handle university, community and family commitments. While also ensuring I have time to participate in activities that make me feel alive and present.  

Vision – to me is creating a future where medicine is more connected, real and genuine. I value connection deeply, and I believe it is absolutely essential to providing meaningful care. 

Legacy – to me this is about inspiring the next generation of First Nations doctors, this is close to my heart, when I'm a qualified psychiatrist I would love to be able to help inspire the next generation of psychiatrists or I guess cardiologists if they are really that way inclined… either way, First Nations people bring a unique perspective to medicine and have a beautiful way of meeting people where they are without judgement or pretence.

3. How have your Elders and ancestors influenced your journey into medicine and psychiatry?

Seeing members of my community deal with mental health concerns and trauma has deeply shaped my relationship to medicine and particularly psychiatry. I'm from a rural town,  we don't have access to psychiatrists, and the few psychologists we have are incredibly difficult to get into (12 months minimum waiting list). For me, I want to create access and preferably in person access to psychiatry for local people, I would also like to work outside of traditional models of medicine. And adapt care to suit the patient. 

4. Please share your recent participation in a PIF event or activity; how has this experience assisted in your career journey to become a psychiatrist?

I attended the PIF conference in Naarm, it was such a fabulous experience. Getting the opportunity to hear from a broad range of psychiatrists and how their careers progressed and were shaped was really great.

5. How do you see the next generation of First Nations psychiatrists shaping the future of mental health care?

I see the next generation of First Nations psychiatrists shaping psychiatry by bringing lived experience to the table, by understanding your own history and how it has shaped you. I also think that we can change the traditional model of psychiatry to being more connected to nature and country. I think there is so much potential for us to really adapt psychiatry care to suit the needs of our mob – and I think the sky's the limit.