Latest news with #OurMedicine
The Advertiser
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Shining a light on trailblazers in Indigenous medicine
Tatum Bond is one of those "lucky people" who truly loves her job. The Ngadjonji woman works in the emergency department at Cairns Base Hospital, and for the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Queensland. "I love the pace," Dr Bond told AAP. "One day I'm dealing with patients who have broken bones and cuts - things that aren't too serious - and then the next day being able to save someone's life or make their final days on Earth comfortable." Growing up, Dr Bond was always intrigued by the human body, and knew she wanted to be a doctor from a young age. "My mum tells this story of when I was about three years old ... I was supposed to be asleep in bed and instead I was watching a TV show through the wall about a baby that had been born with its organs on the outside," she said "Apparently I poked my head through and said, 'I want to be a doctor when I grow up'." Dr Bond was the first Indigenous emergency department specialist in Queensland, and is one of just 10 across the country. Bringing her knowledge of culture and her passion for caring for her people to the job means Dr Bond can break down barriers for patients, sometimes in the most difficult moments of their lives, she said. "The thing I can do when I go to community is I can talk to the spokesperson of the family, I can create that relationship between myself and whoever I'm treating," she said. Dr Bond is one of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical professionals featured in the documentary series Our Medicine. The series shines a spotlight on Indigenous frontline workers across hospitals, ambulance services, traditional healing and other medical services who are working to improve health outcomes in their communities. Dr Bond said, while she was initially nervous to be part of the six-part series, she hopes she can show others they can also achieve their dreams. "The main reason I said yes is because this whole thing is empowering younger generations to come and do these jobs," she said. While the series follows a number of Indigenous medical professionals, producer and co-director of Our Medicine, Karla Hart said there are many more who are doing great things in health. "We went in with the glass half full and focusing on Blak excellence and the brilliant work of a lot of people across the country," the Noongar woman said. "There's so many more people that are out there doing incredible things, and I just feel immensely proud of that." The first episode of Our Medicine premieres on NITV on Thursday night. Tatum Bond is one of those "lucky people" who truly loves her job. The Ngadjonji woman works in the emergency department at Cairns Base Hospital, and for the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Queensland. "I love the pace," Dr Bond told AAP. "One day I'm dealing with patients who have broken bones and cuts - things that aren't too serious - and then the next day being able to save someone's life or make their final days on Earth comfortable." Growing up, Dr Bond was always intrigued by the human body, and knew she wanted to be a doctor from a young age. "My mum tells this story of when I was about three years old ... I was supposed to be asleep in bed and instead I was watching a TV show through the wall about a baby that had been born with its organs on the outside," she said "Apparently I poked my head through and said, 'I want to be a doctor when I grow up'." Dr Bond was the first Indigenous emergency department specialist in Queensland, and is one of just 10 across the country. Bringing her knowledge of culture and her passion for caring for her people to the job means Dr Bond can break down barriers for patients, sometimes in the most difficult moments of their lives, she said. "The thing I can do when I go to community is I can talk to the spokesperson of the family, I can create that relationship between myself and whoever I'm treating," she said. Dr Bond is one of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical professionals featured in the documentary series Our Medicine. The series shines a spotlight on Indigenous frontline workers across hospitals, ambulance services, traditional healing and other medical services who are working to improve health outcomes in their communities. Dr Bond said, while she was initially nervous to be part of the six-part series, she hopes she can show others they can also achieve their dreams. "The main reason I said yes is because this whole thing is empowering younger generations to come and do these jobs," she said. While the series follows a number of Indigenous medical professionals, producer and co-director of Our Medicine, Karla Hart said there are many more who are doing great things in health. "We went in with the glass half full and focusing on Blak excellence and the brilliant work of a lot of people across the country," the Noongar woman said. "There's so many more people that are out there doing incredible things, and I just feel immensely proud of that." The first episode of Our Medicine premieres on NITV on Thursday night. Tatum Bond is one of those "lucky people" who truly loves her job. The Ngadjonji woman works in the emergency department at Cairns Base Hospital, and for the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Queensland. "I love the pace," Dr Bond told AAP. "One day I'm dealing with patients who have broken bones and cuts - things that aren't too serious - and then the next day being able to save someone's life or make their final days on Earth comfortable." Growing up, Dr Bond was always intrigued by the human body, and knew she wanted to be a doctor from a young age. "My mum tells this story of when I was about three years old ... I was supposed to be asleep in bed and instead I was watching a TV show through the wall about a baby that had been born with its organs on the outside," she said "Apparently I poked my head through and said, 'I want to be a doctor when I grow up'." Dr Bond was the first Indigenous emergency department specialist in Queensland, and is one of just 10 across the country. Bringing her knowledge of culture and her passion for caring for her people to the job means Dr Bond can break down barriers for patients, sometimes in the most difficult moments of their lives, she said. "The thing I can do when I go to community is I can talk to the spokesperson of the family, I can create that relationship between myself and whoever I'm treating," she said. Dr Bond is one of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical professionals featured in the documentary series Our Medicine. The series shines a spotlight on Indigenous frontline workers across hospitals, ambulance services, traditional healing and other medical services who are working to improve health outcomes in their communities. Dr Bond said, while she was initially nervous to be part of the six-part series, she hopes she can show others they can also achieve their dreams. "The main reason I said yes is because this whole thing is empowering younger generations to come and do these jobs," she said. While the series follows a number of Indigenous medical professionals, producer and co-director of Our Medicine, Karla Hart said there are many more who are doing great things in health. "We went in with the glass half full and focusing on Blak excellence and the brilliant work of a lot of people across the country," the Noongar woman said. "There's so many more people that are out there doing incredible things, and I just feel immensely proud of that." The first episode of Our Medicine premieres on NITV on Thursday night. Tatum Bond is one of those "lucky people" who truly loves her job. The Ngadjonji woman works in the emergency department at Cairns Base Hospital, and for the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Queensland. "I love the pace," Dr Bond told AAP. "One day I'm dealing with patients who have broken bones and cuts - things that aren't too serious - and then the next day being able to save someone's life or make their final days on Earth comfortable." Growing up, Dr Bond was always intrigued by the human body, and knew she wanted to be a doctor from a young age. "My mum tells this story of when I was about three years old ... I was supposed to be asleep in bed and instead I was watching a TV show through the wall about a baby that had been born with its organs on the outside," she said "Apparently I poked my head through and said, 'I want to be a doctor when I grow up'." Dr Bond was the first Indigenous emergency department specialist in Queensland, and is one of just 10 across the country. Bringing her knowledge of culture and her passion for caring for her people to the job means Dr Bond can break down barriers for patients, sometimes in the most difficult moments of their lives, she said. "The thing I can do when I go to community is I can talk to the spokesperson of the family, I can create that relationship between myself and whoever I'm treating," she said. Dr Bond is one of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical professionals featured in the documentary series Our Medicine. The series shines a spotlight on Indigenous frontline workers across hospitals, ambulance services, traditional healing and other medical services who are working to improve health outcomes in their communities. Dr Bond said, while she was initially nervous to be part of the six-part series, she hopes she can show others they can also achieve their dreams. "The main reason I said yes is because this whole thing is empowering younger generations to come and do these jobs," she said. While the series follows a number of Indigenous medical professionals, producer and co-director of Our Medicine, Karla Hart said there are many more who are doing great things in health. "We went in with the glass half full and focusing on Blak excellence and the brilliant work of a lot of people across the country," the Noongar woman said. "There's so many more people that are out there doing incredible things, and I just feel immensely proud of that." The first episode of Our Medicine premieres on NITV on Thursday night.
Perth Now
29-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Shining a light on trailblazers in Indigenous medicine
Tatum Bond is one of those "lucky people" who truly loves her job. The Ngadjonji woman works in the emergency department at Cairns Base Hospital, and for the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Queensland. "I love the pace," Dr Bond told AAP. "One day I'm dealing with patients who have broken bones and cuts - things that aren't too serious - and then the next day being able to save someone's life or make their final days on Earth comfortable." Growing up, Dr Bond was always intrigued by the human body, and knew she wanted to be a doctor from a young age. "My mum tells this story of when I was about three years old ... I was supposed to be asleep in bed and instead I was watching a TV show through the wall about a baby that had been born with its organs on the outside," she said "Apparently I poked my head through and said, 'I want to be a doctor when I grow up'." Dr Bond was the first Indigenous emergency department specialist in Queensland, and is one of just 10 across the country. Bringing her knowledge of culture and her passion for caring for her people to the job means Dr Bond can break down barriers for patients, sometimes in the most difficult moments of their lives, she said. "The thing I can do when I go to community is I can talk to the spokesperson of the family, I can create that relationship between myself and whoever I'm treating," she said. Dr Bond is one of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical professionals featured in the documentary series Our Medicine. The series shines a spotlight on Indigenous frontline workers across hospitals, ambulance services, traditional healing and other medical services who are working to improve health outcomes in their communities. Dr Bond said, while she was initially nervous to be part of the six-part series, she hopes she can show others they can also achieve their dreams. "The main reason I said yes is because this whole thing is empowering younger generations to come and do these jobs," she said. While the series follows a number of Indigenous medical professionals, producer and co-director of Our Medicine, Karla Hart said there are many more who are doing great things in health. "We went in with the glass half full and focusing on Blak excellence and the brilliant work of a lot of people across the country," the Noongar woman said. "There's so many more people that are out there doing incredible things, and I just feel immensely proud of that." The first episode of Our Medicine premieres on NITV on Thursday night.
West Australian
29-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Shining a light on trailblazers in Indigenous medicine
Tatum Bond is one of those "lucky people" who truly loves her job. The Ngadjonji woman works in the emergency department at Cairns Base Hospital, and for the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Queensland. "I love the pace," Dr Bond told AAP. "One day I'm dealing with patients who have broken bones and cuts - things that aren't too serious - and then the next day being able to save someone's life or make their final days on Earth comfortable." Growing up, Dr Bond was always intrigued by the human body, and knew she wanted to be a doctor from a young age. "My mum tells this story of when I was about three years old ... I was supposed to be asleep in bed and instead I was watching a TV show through the wall about a baby that had been born with its organs on the outside," she said "Apparently I poked my head through and said, 'I want to be a doctor when I grow up'." Dr Bond was the first Indigenous emergency department specialist in Queensland, and is one of just 10 across the country. Bringing her knowledge of culture and her passion for caring for her people to the job means Dr Bond can break down barriers for patients, sometimes in the most difficult moments of their lives, she said. "The thing I can do when I go to community is I can talk to the spokesperson of the family, I can create that relationship between myself and whoever I'm treating," she said. Dr Bond is one of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical professionals featured in the documentary series Our Medicine. The series shines a spotlight on Indigenous frontline workers across hospitals, ambulance services, traditional healing and other medical services who are working to improve health outcomes in their communities. Dr Bond said, while she was initially nervous to be part of the six-part series, she hopes she can show others they can also achieve their dreams. "The main reason I said yes is because this whole thing is empowering younger generations to come and do these jobs," she said. While the series follows a number of Indigenous medical professionals, producer and co-director of Our Medicine, Karla Hart said there are many more who are doing great things in health. "We went in with the glass half full and focusing on Blak excellence and the brilliant work of a lot of people across the country," the Noongar woman said. "There's so many more people that are out there doing incredible things, and I just feel immensely proud of that." The first episode of Our Medicine premieres on NITV on Thursday night.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
More than a chronicle of pain and failure, this fly-on-the-wall medical series gives hope
Our Medicine (series premiere) ★★★½ Actor and Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka-Murri woman Leah Purcell is the ideal narrator for this documentary series about First Nations health. Her voice is steady yet infused with dismay and quiet anger as she details a history of disease and neglect. And Our Medicine doesn't pull its punches about the severity of the situation. But it also aims to be more than a chronicle of pain and failure, focusing on positive initiatives driven by a range of Indigenous practitioners endeavouring to address a chronic societal failure. 'From the early days of colonisation, First Nations people in Australia have been locked in a catastrophic cycle of poor health outcomes,' Purcell's voiceover declares as the six-part series begins. 'Today, with a medical system in desperate need of reform, these are stories of change, of connection and of inspiration.' The production's format is familiar, even if the focus is not. It's shaped like many medical ob-doc series (think RPA, Emergency, Ambulance Australia, Paramedics). Patients arrive at a hospital or clinic, or are brought in by ambulance and the practitioners treating them – paramedics, nurses, doctors, health workers – are interviewed about what they're doing and why. This series also devotes attention to the value of traditional healing methods. In Western Australia, Sasha Greenhoff learns from her 'jajas' (grandmothers) about their methods, language, songs and stories at a cultural-healing event. 'We talk about intergenerational trauma as a huge thing that's in our lives,' she says. 'But there's not enough about intergenerational wealth. And what I've experienced here with my jajas, that's intergenerational wealth.' Cases treated by conventional medicine are given an illuminating context. In Cairns (Gimuy), when a man is brought in with machete wounds, Dr Tatum Bond explains that such injuries are not uncommon in the area as warring families have been forced on to the same land and tensions date back generations. In Darwin (Garamilla), Shaun Tatipata, founder of the country's only Indigenous eye care provider, conducts eye checks in remote communities. Associate Professor Kris Rallah-Baker, the country's only Indigenous eye surgeon, flies in to join the cataract clinics, performing multiple operations in a day. Aboriginal people over the age of 40 have six times the rate of blindness of other Australians and, in 94 per cent of cases, loss of sight is preventable or treatable. Such alarming statistics are woven through the series, persuasively attesting to the urgent need for reform.
The Age
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Age
More than a chronicle of pain and failure, this fly-on-the-wall medical series gives hope
Our Medicine (series premiere) ★★★½ Actor and Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka-Murri woman Leah Purcell is the ideal narrator for this documentary series about First Nations health. Her voice is steady yet infused with dismay and quiet anger as she details a history of disease and neglect. And Our Medicine doesn't pull its punches about the severity of the situation. But it also aims to be more than a chronicle of pain and failure, focusing on positive initiatives driven by a range of Indigenous practitioners endeavouring to address a chronic societal failure. 'From the early days of colonisation, First Nations people in Australia have been locked in a catastrophic cycle of poor health outcomes,' Purcell's voiceover declares as the six-part series begins. 'Today, with a medical system in desperate need of reform, these are stories of change, of connection and of inspiration.' The production's format is familiar, even if the focus is not. It's shaped like many medical ob-doc series (think RPA, Emergency, Ambulance Australia, Paramedics). Patients arrive at a hospital or clinic, or are brought in by ambulance and the practitioners treating them – paramedics, nurses, doctors, health workers – are interviewed about what they're doing and why. This series also devotes attention to the value of traditional healing methods. In Western Australia, Sasha Greenhoff learns from her 'jajas' (grandmothers) about their methods, language, songs and stories at a cultural-healing event. 'We talk about intergenerational trauma as a huge thing that's in our lives,' she says. 'But there's not enough about intergenerational wealth. And what I've experienced here with my jajas, that's intergenerational wealth.' Cases treated by conventional medicine are given an illuminating context. In Cairns (Gimuy), when a man is brought in with machete wounds, Dr Tatum Bond explains that such injuries are not uncommon in the area as warring families have been forced on to the same land and tensions date back generations. In Darwin (Garamilla), Shaun Tatipata, founder of the country's only Indigenous eye care provider, conducts eye checks in remote communities. Associate Professor Kris Rallah-Baker, the country's only Indigenous eye surgeon, flies in to join the cataract clinics, performing multiple operations in a day. Aboriginal people over the age of 40 have six times the rate of blindness of other Australians and, in 94 per cent of cases, loss of sight is preventable or treatable. Such alarming statistics are woven through the series, persuasively attesting to the urgent need for reform.
