Growing up, Shaylee Andrews was inspired by various roles, playing teachers and photographer with her cousins. When Shaylee learned about Muriel Stanley, the first Indigenous Midwife from Yarrabah, her true calling emerged.
“When I found out the first Indigenous Midwife was from Yarrabah, it really inspired me,” Shaylee said. “I always wanted to do something in health because my mum is the CEO of Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services and she inspired me to pursue leadership in this field.”
In 2018, Shaylee applied for a Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) Secondary scholarship and was awarded a place at the Cathedral School in Townsville. The scholarship came with higher expectations, from herself, and her teachers. Shaylee was able to apply herself and improve her academic record with guidance from CYLP support officers and tutors.
“The extra support from CYLP lifted a weight off my shoulders, especially having a trusted tutor,” she said.
Shaylee’s path to Midwifery has not been without obstacles. A career teacher once discouraged her from going straight to university, suggesting a TAFE course instead. “I felt like she didn’t believe in me,” Shaylee recalled. Despite this feedback, Shaylee persevered, and with encouragement from CYLP, she secured a place in university and a Cape York Leaders Tertiary scholarship. Cape York Leaders Program staff utilised their extended support network to secure Shaylee’s accommodation in Brisbane. “When I got the call about the university offer, I was surprised. I didn’t think I would get in,” Shaylee shared
Adjusting to life in Brisbane has been challenging and very rewarding. “It was a bit scary and a long way from home,” Shaylee admitted. However, with guidance from CYLP Student Support Officers, Shaylee has stayed connected with family and fellow students. Maintaining connections with her community has helped to overcome homesickness, “Having family here and staying in touch with my loved ones has been really important,” she said.
In her midwifery studies, Shaylee has had the chance to observe, and participate in both antenatal and postnatal care. She has noted differences between metropolitan and rural settings. “In the city, there aren’t many Indigenous girls in my field, but there’s an Indigenous cohort that stays in the community and comes down for block placements,” she explained. Shaylee also noted, “Some women in Yarrabah don’t engage as much with appointments. I want to help change that by being a familiar face in the community.” She believes that having an Indigenous midwife in her community can foster trust and improve health outcomes. “Women in Yarrabah deserve care from people they trust” she noted. Her vision is to bridge the gap between metropolitan and rural healthcare, ensuring that women in her community receive the best possible care.
Shaylee’s most profound realisation came during a challenging birth experience. “Seeing a difficult labour, up close, made me really appreciate my mum and all mothers. It was an eye-opener and reinforced why I want to support women through their pregnancies”. Shaylee is now in her second year of Midwifery, with two years left of her Bachelor course and is a proud CYLP Tertiary Scholarship recipient.
Shaylee’s strong sense of purpose and dedication, gives her the confidence to become a change maker in the field of Midwifery, “I want to create a ripple effect in my community, just like my parents did,” she said.
