Community
4 August, 2024
Nurse inspires his mob
FULFILLING his dream to became a nurse, Liamon Mudd wants to inspire his fellow Indigenous people and help close the gap in healthcare.
The proud Kunjen man from Cape York’s Kowanyama always knew he wanted to become a nurse. He works at Mookai Rosie Family Health Centre in Cairns
“Health was always my calling,” he said.
“I have that personality to care for people and I knew that health would be the best pathway for me to do that.”
With his educational journey beginning at TAFE Queensland’s Cairns campus, Mr Mudd originally completed a qualification in sports and recreation to further his role at the Kowanyama Multipurpose Centre.
With a passion for healthcare, he was then led to undertake a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (HLT40121), followed by a Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management (HLT50221) at TAFE Queensland’s Toowoomba campus.
Supporting him through his studies, the Indigenous Youth Mobility Program, which provides accommodation options for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students relocating from remote or regional communities to study or undertake an apprenticeship played a big part in Mr Mudd’s journey.
“If it wasn’t for the Indigenous Youth Mobility Program, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.
“It set me up to succeed in life.”
He is balancing his studies with a full-time job at Mookai Rosie Family Health Centre in Cairns, where his commitment to providing culturally safe healthcare for First Nations people has made a significant impact.
Mookai Rosie chief executive Theresa Simpson said Mr Mudd was “an inspirational young man to the community, with huge potential in the health field”.
“Mookai Rosie is very proud to support Liamon through his health journey,” she said.
Mr Mudd said he felt “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. It’s very important, and I am so blessed and grateful that I had the opportunity to go through TAFE Queensland and make my way up the ladder.
“You can be anything you want to be if you’re passionate and want to make a difference for your community.”
While completing his studies at TAFE Queensland, Mr Mudd worked at Gidgee Healing and Apunipima Cape York Health Council, primary healthcare providers that focus on delivering health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Far North Queensland.
“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,” he said.
