Victoria University PhD student awarded scholarship

Victoria University’s Mulki Said has been awarded the William and Elizabeth Fisher Scholarship ($8000).

Enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) in Nursing and Midwifery, Mulki was awarded the scholarship by the Graduate Women of Victoria for female students undertaking a PhD or doctoral degree course at Victoria University.

Mulki studied biomedical science in her undergraduate degree, but decided to explore other disciplines to help “figure out her passion”. Along the way she discovered more than one.

“I spent time as an adult trainer, delivering certificate and diploma courses in the Children Services industry, and that’s when I realised I wanted to teach. But I also wanted to study mental health, so I decided to combine my passions and undertake a PhD in Health Promotion and Education”

Mulki’s PhD focuses on understanding why first-generation Somali migrant women are reluctant to access mental health services, and to develop a mental health literacy program for Somali migrant women.

Born in Somalia and raised in Werribee, Mulki says her connection to the west of Melbourne is strong; so too are her ties to her community.

“In Somalia, people with mental health issues are stigmatised and it’s not something people are comfortable talking about. I want people in my community to feel more comfortable talking about mental illness and help them access the support they need”.

“This thesis can make an important contribution to understanding mental health issues faced by Somali migrant women and improve their mental health literacy, reduce self-stigma, and increase their help-seeking for mental health problems,” said PhD supervisors Professor Terence McCann and Dr Gayelene Boardman.

While the $8000 is certainly a welcome financial bonus, Mulki said receiving the scholarship is not the only benefit - “it also validates my work and inspires me to keep going”.

Even the most organised student can find juggling study, work placements and contact hours challenging, but for Mulki, one particular technique works consistently. “When I have a lot going on and I don’t know where to start, I break big tasks down to small, more manageable tasks, and tick them off as I go.