Liamon Mudd is following his dreams of becoming a nurse as he pursues a Bachelor of Nursing at Deakin University. Photo: Supplied.
A Kowanyama man is making strides in his dreams of becoming a nurse, empowering his community, and closing the gap in healthcare.
Through his work at Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan, a First Nations health and wellbeing facility for women and children from Cape York, Liamon Mudd has already made a significant impact in providing culturally safe care for his mob, and is now pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing at Deakin University to further upskill.
“You can be anything you want to be if you’re passionate and want to make a difference for your community,” Mr Mudd said.
“I feel blessed to be connected with mob from the Cape and Torres and provide essential services.
“It’s good to see mob taking up work in the health industry; health is a big issue for First Nations people, and having our own people on the ground, providing a service for their own community and their own people will really help close the gap in healthcare.”
Mr Mudd’s passion for nursing initially led him to TAFE, where he undertook a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care and a Diploma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management
“Health was always my calling; I have that personality to care for people, and I knew that health would be the best pathway for me to do that,” he said.
“TAFE Queensland gave me the hands-on experience to be the best healthcare worker I could be for my mob, my community, and the healthcare centre I work for.
“[They] gave me the boost to go to take the next step; I still can’t believe that I am actually doing nursing at university.”
The aspiring nurse’s university degree will only add to his list of accomplishments – previously, he won the 2020 Tropical North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year, and was a finalist for Vocational Student of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards.
Ultimately, Mr Mudd hopes to return to his community and improve health outcomes for Kowanyama’s next generation.
“I’ve got another couple of years before I graduate, but hopefully I can come out as a registered nurse so that one day, I can go back and make that change in healthcare for my community,” he said.
“I want to work as a child health nurse in Kowanyama, providing services that help close the gap in healthcare and benefit our future.”
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Terri Dick commended Mr Mudd on his determination and commitment to his people’s health.
“Liamon is making all of us in Kowanyama very proud,” he said.
“He’s working hard to get the education he needs to come back and make a real difference in our community.
“It’s such important work, and we’re inspired by his drive to improve health outcomes for our future generation.”
Liamon Mudd (left) has supported many First Nations families from Cape York through his work at Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan. Photo: Facebook.
