Tiana Alley has made the most of her 12-month GTNT Indigenous traineeship at Menzies working towards gaining a Certificate III in Community Services working with our hepatitis B research team.
Tiana is an Alawa Marra woman from the Minyerri and Roper River districts in the Top End of the Northern Territory (NT).
Following school at Marrara Christian College in Darwin’s northern suburbs, Tiana undertook a Certificate IV in Mental Health with Headspace before joining the Menzies traineeship program.
She says the opportunities at Menzies delivering health literacy programs to people with hepatitis B have opened her eyes to the suffering chronic disease inflicts in communities around the NT.
“It is very sad to see how widespread hepatitis B in communities and the suffering it causes, but I have seen how research and delivering health services are making a difference,” Tiana said.
“It is not just the disease itself, particularly in cases where people have this chronic disease and are facing a lifetime of medication. Looking after a patient’s mental health is also part of the cascade of care.
“The Menzies Indigenous traineeship program is a good way to get young people involved in health research and health service delivery that is about them.”
Tiana is currently enrolled part-time with Charles Darwin University in a Bachelor of Social Work and looking to continue her work at Menzies with the hepatitis B team.
The Menzies Indigenous traineeship program in partnership with GTNT incorporates important leadership and development opportunities in addition to support provided to complete Certificate qualifications in Community Services and Business Administration.
Applications for the 2021 program close on October 30, 2020. Please email the Biyamarr ma team for application details or visit our website.