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.

My name is Sam, and I'm passionate about becoming a psychiatrist. I'm from Yuin nation, and currently study on Awabakal country. Outside of university, I love to spend time with my family, friends and dog. 

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

Strength – to me is everything you carry daily, whatever that may be.
I am taking care of myself and keeping up with my studies and the pressure of medical school. I’m also making time for myself to do things that make me feel alive and present, this means ensuring that I am acting in alignment with my morals and purpose. It's a fine line to balance self-care and medicine and the hardest thing I've ever done. 

Vision – creating a future where medicine is more connected, real and genuine. I value human connection deeply, and I believe it is essential to providing meaningful care. I like to get to know people and connect with them and I believe that it's the best way to reach people in medicine. 

Legacy – 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 inspire the next generation of psychiatrists or cardiologists. 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 my family and friends experiencing trauma and other things has deeply shaped my relationship with medicine, particularly psychiatry. I've seen people in my life go right to the edge of despair - oftentimes with no access to meaningful psychiatric care. I'm from a rural town - and outside of Headspace (only for young adults) and psychiatrists at the hospital we don't have access to psychiatric care, and the few psychologists we have are incredibly difficult to get into (12 months minimum wait time). For me, I want to create in-person access to psychiatry for local people, I would also like to work outside of traditional models of medicine. Like incorporating equine therapy and encouraging the building of connections between animals and people. I personally love to be outside rather than in an office, so I'd love to be able to incorporate something like that also. 

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 shaped was great. I felt like it was the room I belonged in, and a place where things made sense and felt easy. I really valued the experience and was so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of it. 

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, understanding your own history and how it has shaped you. I also think that we can change the traditional model of psychiatry to it being more connected to nature and country. Even if it's just walking outside during a session rather than sitting indoors. 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 skies are the limit! The first step however is inspiring more young people to apply for medicine - it is hard, yes, but it's also just a beautiful journey and has taught me so much. It's been a crazy whirlwind but one filled with so many beautiful and supportive people. I'm so lucky to be able to study medicine and I am appreciative of this opportunity and all the people who support me.