Psychology cadet Rikki Close plans to use her unique heritage to help families

Ms Close has started her second placement with Metro South Health under an Indigenous cadetship, a funded position to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students gain workforce experience.

Working at the Logan Hospital Allied Health Psychology Department, the cadet said she was grateful for the opportunity that she had been given.

"I am grateful for this invaluable experience and believe it will greatly assist my career path," Ms Close said.

Ms Close's her journey to studying psychology was influenced by her childhood but also by the discovery of her own Indigenous heritage, which she only found out later in life.

The budding psychologist also said she had experience of foster care as a child, which was something she hoped to draw on to help families in the community.

"There is such a huge need for reconciliation between families," Ms Close said.

"Being able to work with whole of community, not just the Aboriginal community, to re-engage families and support them to re-establish their bonds is my goal after I finish my degree and masters."

Ms Close did not find out about her heritage until she was 27, when she and her family discovered her father had Aboriginal and Chinese ancestry and not Chinese and English as they had originally believed.

The incorporation of music, movement and dance into her work was something Ms Close said was important to her.

"Dance particularly forms a big part of Aboriginal culture; we use it to celebrate life within our community," she said.

"I am looking forward to touching on this from an Aboriginal perspective and working on ways to integrate this into mainstream culture."

Dr Marilia Libera, Acting Director of Psychology at Logan Hospital said the cadet would be well-supported during her time at the hospital.

"During the cadetship, our department will support Rikki to continue to develop her skills as a psychology student, whilst providing her with a welcoming and inclusive environment, and learning from her in turn," Dr Libera said.