Having set her sights on addressing numerous healthcare challenges in the Northern Territory,Teegan Wattam has now become the first First Nations graduate to receive a Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Speech and Language Therapy at Charles Darwin University (CDU).

The proud Larrakia and Wadjigan woman has a particular interest in helping Territorians who have speech and swallowing difficulties to communicate and manage their conditions effectively.

“I think there's such a shortage of allied health professionals up here, and because of that there are long wait lists, which is probably the biggest impact as well, that we have a really high turnover of staff,” Ms Wattam said.

“I think people don't realise the wider impact that allied health professionals have in the areas we can work in.”

For example, Ms Wattam says many people think speech pathologists’ only role is to help people to talk.

“But we do a lot more than that. We help them with swallowing, to communicate in all different ways and in learning.”

Ms Wattam started her healthcare education in Sydney, but when CDU opened places for a double degree in health science and speech pathology, she jumped at the chance to return home and be part of the first cohort of the course.

“I chose to study at CDU because it's close to home. I'm a Territory girl born and raised,” she said.

“The biggest factor for me growing up was that there weren't always the opportunities to study here. And most often than not, you had to leave home to access those opportunities.

“So having CDU open up this course, and being in the first cohort to graduate, was a really big thing for me.”

Ms Wattam captained the first CDU team to go to the Indigenous Nationals games, as well as mentoring in the Bidjipidji schools program.

She was also in the NT Health Aboriginal Cadetship Program all while being an attentive aunty to three nephews, who, she said, were the reason she was so dedicated to her education.

“When I am working with young kids, I always think of my nephews because I know I would do anything to help them through life,” she said.

“They’re my reason why I keep studying, to show them the opportunities in education and the impact you can have in people’s lives.”

Ms Wattam said she hoped to use her new qualification and skills to improve healthcare accessibility throughout the NT, and was looking forward to using her specialist knowledge, skills, and culture to make an impact in the community that
shaped her.

“I really just want to get out in the community and give back to my mob and help young children have access to all these opportunities,” she said.

“Seeing these little kids achieve so much and the positive impact for them and their families is so rewarding. When parents have told me that they're noticing the changes, it really means so much to me, because I believe in what their kids can do.”