Charlotte Sapio

I identify as an Arrernte woman (the cultural identity of both my grandparents) but I also have strong family and cultural ties to Pitjantjatjara family. I grew up in my Adelaide home with two cousins – both wards of the state, who are from remote communities (Docker River (Kaltukatjara) and Canteen Creek (Owairtilla) where both men still live.
 
I appreciated that this scholarship has a focus on working with emerging future Aboriginal psychologists and encouraging them to travel to remote and rural communities to provide mental health services. I want to contribute to improving mental health in these areas when I complete my degree. As discussed in my application, this scholarship would firstly provide me with tools to support the completion of my degree and potentially provide access to relevant networks and resources throughout my study. Being awarded the scholarship would allow me to focus primarily on my study with the ability to then reduce my work hours at my current job which supports my living expenses and costs such as private tutoring, IT and textbooks.
 
I plan to work as a clinical psychologist after finishing my current degree of Psychology Honors and in future a masters and PhD. After the completion of my studies, I wish to travel to remote and rural Indigenous communities to provide mental health support and education. I believe this is so important as I wish to be a part of closing the gap between Indigenous health and non-indigenous health as well as reducing the high prevalence of suicide and incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.