Yesterday, UCRH welcomed 45 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students to our Lismore Campus for the latest Baribunmani Wanyi Ngay youth program, a vibrant and hands-on experience designed to spark interest in health careers.
Students from six Northern NSW schools – Kingscliff High School, Mullumbimby High School, Shearwater School, Clarence Valley Anglican School, St John’s College Woodlawn, and Casino High School – took part in a half-day program filled with interactive learning, cultural connection, and career inspiration.
Baribunmani Wanyi Ngay, a Bundjalung phrase meaning “I dreamed about you,” reflects the heart of the program: encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to see themselves as future health professionals. The day was filled with practical simulation activities in basic life support, physiotherapy, and speech pathology, led by university students on rural placements with UCRH from the University of Sydney, Griffith University, and Southern Cross University.
Students also learnt about the WellMob team, exploring digital resources that support social and emotional wellbeing in culturally safe ways.
Dr Marcelle Townsend-Cross, a key member of UCRH’s Aboriginal Health Team, shared the deeper purpose behind the program:
“Baribunmani Wanyi Ngay means ‘I dreamed about you’ in Bundjalung, and that’s exactly what we want these young people to do—dream about themselves as future health professionals,” she said.
“We make the sessions fun, but the message is serious. Aboriginal people across the country face significant health disparities. One way to change that is by equipping our own young people with the skills and knowledge to lead that change.”
The program is part of UCRH’s long-term commitment to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the health workforce, improving cultural safety and community wellbeing.
We’re proud to host Baribunmani Wanyi Ngay and grateful to the students, school staff, university volunteers, and community partners who made the day such a success.
