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🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

Indigenous mother paves way for children to study medicine

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Ieesha Nasser, 18, has begun her medical degree at Western Sydney University, following in the footsteps of her mother and two older brothers.
  • Her mother, Tatum Maybir, 45, pursued medicine after raising six children and now works in general practice.
  • The Nasser siblings aim to increase the representation of Indigenous Australians in the medical profession, where they currently make up only 0.6% of practitioners.

Ieesha Nasser, an 18-year-old Indigenous Australian, is embarking on her medical journey, inspired by her mother and two older brothers who have already achieved medical degrees.

Mum would come home and she would have to memorise all these parts of the skull and I would memorise it with her.

— Ieesha NasserIeesha Nasser describing how she learned medical terminology alongside her mother during her mother's studies.

Nasser has commenced her first term in a five-year medical degree program at Western Sydney University, followed by a two-year residency. She expressed her passion for helping people in impactful ways, a sentiment shared by her family. "I just feel I'm the happiest when I'm helping people in such an impactful way," she said.

Her mother, Tatum Maybir, 45, pursued medicine after raising her six children. After working in the public hospital system, she entered general practice training. Maybir emphasized a holistic approach to healthcare, looking beyond immediate symptoms to consider social and cultural factors.

I just feel I'm the happiest when I'm helping people in such an impactful way.

— Ieesha NasserIeesha Nasser expressing her motivation for pursuing a career in medicine.

Ieesha's older brothers, Jamaal, 22, and Abdul, 24, graduated from the same university and are now junior doctors. Jamaal was motivated to enter medicine after witnessing his grandmother suffer from an aneurysm, believing an Indigenous doctor could have provided earlier assistance. He hopes to specialize in surgery, noting the underrepresentation of Indigenous surgeons.

There are many dark times, many bright times … you smash one exam or you barely pass or may fail another exam … but I think if you have the right motivations and the right purpose behind it you can find a way to push through.

— Jamaal NasserJamaal Nasser reflecting on the challenges and perseverance required during medical studies.

Abdul also cited the low number of Indigenous doctors as a key motivator. As of December 31, 2025, only 969 medical practitioners in Australia identified as First Nations, representing a mere 0.6% of all registered medical practitioners. This figure is significantly below population parity, highlighting the critical need for greater Indigenous representation in the healthcare field. The Nasser siblings are actively contributing to bridging this gap.

If we're going to the 70s and 80s, there's no such thing as an Indigenous doctor … so we're definitely in new territory.

— Abdul NasserAbdul Nasser discussing the historical lack of Indigenous doctors and the current progress.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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