Tahnee's path to cancer research

We recently caught up with Tahnee, a Bachelor of Biomedicine student who used a grant from the First Nations Fund to attend a summit called Wiyi Yani U Thangani (meaning women’s voices in Bunuba language).  

Tahnee’s interest in science began at a very young age. Learning in the labs in her first year of the Bachelor of Biomedicine, Tahnee knew she’d made the right choice for her career.   

Now in her final year, Tahnee is looking forward to working in the field of cancer research.  

I've had curiosity for science since I was about four years old. I remember my Dad bringing home old medical books from the op shop. Some of them pre-dated colour photography, with illustrations of small-pox and polio as illnesses of concern! 

I find solace in science: while we know not of why we are here, it’s knowing how we are here.

With the help of a grant from the First Nations Fund, Tahnee found herself captivated when attending the Wiyi Yani U Thangani summit which delved into pressing topics such as gender inequality in the workplace and the influential voices shaping our future.   

She found it particularly helpful to have the opportunity to network with First Nation Women like herself. 

It allowed me to experience a mass collaboration with other indigenous women just to see the strength in numbers that we have across indigenous women for the Wani, Ani Brown was empowering. And we also had an input and contribution to the creation of the First Nations Gender Equality Institute.

Tahnee found the experience to be empowering and enriching, particularly in learning how to transform complex policies, often filled with jargon, into practical actions.  

The opportunity to collaborate beyond the university setting is crucial for students to be workforce ready when they graduate. 

I think having that opportunity to collaborate is really important outside of university. Once we go into the workforce, we are not generally equipped to attend these conferences and to learn how to network and do all those things. So it gives a more practical experience. When I came back, I did started telling other students about my experience.

 Tahnee is currently completing an internship at the Brain Cancer Research Lab at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI).  

It's exciting to contribute to the ongoing efforts in understanding and combating this devastating disease. My colleagues, and particularly my supervisors Professor Sarah Best, Professor Shannon Oliver and Dr Jurgen Kriel are incredible scientists. It’s such a gift to learn from them as academic mentors and role models.

After she graduates, Tahnee plans to continue her work in the brain cancer research space for years to come.   

Thank you for supporting the First Nations Fund so students like Tahnee can make an impact.