Student Highlights
Kobey’s pathway to medicine
Kobey always wanted to work in healthcare, but after learning he was not eligible for an ATAR he didn’t know how he would get there.
A Kamilaroi man, originally based in Tamworth, Kobey’s culture has always been important to him. Being a part of the Clontarf Foundation, a group dedicated to improving the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, Kobey had grown up in a supportive environment. The support he received within the foundation helped Kobey to realise his life-long dream was to help people.
Originally pursuing nursing, Kobey has always been interested in helping others. “I want to look after people, give back and, you know, just be a really good person and role model”, Kobey said.
Completing a traineeship with Hunter New England Health in years 11 and 12, Kobey was well on his way to realising his dream. Following a recommended course load, he completed his HSC but was surprised to learn he would not receive an ATAR.
Not letting this set back stop him, Kobey reached out to his teacher at Clontarf who helped put him in touch with the University of Newcastle. Visiting the Wollotuka Institute, Kobey learned about the different options available to him and decided to pursue our Yapug program, “I was lucky enough to enrol in the Yapug program. I wouldn't change a thing about my story because the Yapug program helped me so much”.
Yapug is a pathway program designed to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to gain the knowledge and skills for entry into university while immersing them in Indigenous knowledge, history and culture. Together with the Wollotuka Institute, Yapug provides students with foundational knowledge, embedded support and a range of social activities to enjoy during their time in the program and into their degrees.
Kobey valued the foundational courses and support he received through Yapug, attributing his success to the academic skills and self-discipline he gained throughout the program. “I honestly feel if I went straight into an Undergraduate degree, I probably would have failed due to the academic standards. Yapug gave me an understanding of what uni really is”, said Kobey.
After one semester of Yapug, Kobey was again considering his options. Still pursuing nursing, he thought that medicine was not an option, “medicine was never on the chart, only due to the fact that I thought I wasn't smart enough”. Staff at the Wollotuka Institute could see Kobey’s potential and urged him to look at all the possibilities, suggesting he would be perfect for medicine.
Wollotuka staff suggested Kobey consider the Miroma Bunbilla pathway to medicine, a program designed to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students an insight into studying medicine. Kobey was immediately excited by the idea, “that really opened my eyes. I was like, wow, I really want to do this”. The 5-day assessment program solidified Kobey’s interest in pursuing medicine, having learned about the skills required to become a doctor.
Thinking about his next steps, Kobey also wondered how he would balance work, study and life. With a plan in place to work and study, he knew studying medicine would be tough but was excited for the challenge. After seeing a Ma & Morley Scholarship poster, Kobey thought he’d give it a go.
The Ma & Morley Scholarship Program is more than just a scholarship. The scholarship program offers its scholars access to a values-based leadership program, a cultural immersion experience and funds to put towards their studies. It aims to inspire, educate and cultivate the next generation of globally aware and socially conscious Australian leaders. With some help from his recruitment officer at the Clontarf Foundation, Kobey completed the application and was surprised when he learned he had made it through to the interview stage.
After being awarded the Ma & Morley Scholarship and completing the Miroma Bunbilla assessment program, Kobey learned he had been admitted to the Joint Medical Program (JMP). Thrilled with his result, he shared the news with his family, “I found out I made it into medicine at 230am. I started waking everyone up saying I made it, I made it, I made it”.
Kobey has now begun his degree and is enjoying the challenge. He wants to help inspire other Indigenous people to pursue their dreams, letting them know anything is possible, “that's my goal, to help young Indigenous females or males understand that it's always possible to put your mind to things if you want it”. Kobey wants to be known as the fun doctor, participating in community events, helping to create change in Aboriginal communities and encourage others to follow their dreams, “If I can make one person smile a day like, I would be happy. I want to influence other people to follow their career and help change health in the Aboriginal sort of communities.”
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Kobey Potts
After learning he wasn’t eligible for an ATAR, Kobey has completed the Yapug Pathway Program, Miroma Bunbilla and begun studying the Joint Medical Program as a Ma & Morley Scholar.
If I can make one person smile a day, I want to influence other people to follow their career and help change health in the Aboriginal sort of communities.
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