Presenters
Dr Karen Nicholls
Dr Karen Nicholls, a Torres Strait Islander woman descending from Boigu Island in the Torres Strait. Since receiving her Fellowship with the RACGP in 2010, Dr Nicholls has worked predominantly in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector and academia. Passionate about health equity and growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce, Dr Nicholls is currently working in full-time academia at the University of Newcastle where she originally studied medicine. Late last year she joined the college’s 65th Board when she was elected Chair of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health – a role in which she feels privileged and proud to be a female GP representing this space.
Dr Kirsty Jennings
Kirsty is a Biripi woman from the Mid North Coast of NSW. Kirsty originally trained as a social worker through the University of Newcastle and spent several years working in community based Aboriginal Health services. She then went on to complete a Bachelor of Medicine at the University of Newcastle and went on to complete her FRACGP.
Kirsty currently works in general practice in the Port Stephens area and works within the Thurru Indigenous Health unit teaching Indigenous Health into the Joint Medical Program at the University of Newcastle.
Within her role at the University of Newcastle, Kirsty is the lead for the Pathways into Medicine Indigenous health program delivering Culturally safe and reflective healthcare and communication education to 4th and 5th year students.
Professor Peter O'mara
Professor Peter O’mara is a proud Wiradjuri man from northeast Wiradjuri Country who completed his medical degree at the University of Newcastle. Since completing his degree, Peter has worked as a GP at Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Service and founded the Werin Aboriginal Medical Service. Whilst still working at Tobwabba and Werin, Peter is also employed as a Professor and Assistant Dean of Indigenous Health at the University of Newcastle. Peter is committed to the ongoing training of Indigenous medical doctors to improve health disparities and continuously advocates for better health and education outcomes in Indigenous communities.