When Jayrahni Nicholls began her health journey, Aunty Deslie Dempsey was her mentor.
A decade later, the roles have reversed.
When Ngak Min Health's Aboriginal Health Worker and Registered Nurse Jayrahni Nicholls was in Year 11, she stepped into her first placement at Balance Family Practice in Edmonton as part of her Certificate III in Aboriginal Primary Health Care. Her supervisor was Aunty Deslie Dempsey – a seasoned Indigenous Health Practitioner who Jayrahni remembers with deep affection.
“If it wasn’t Aunty Deslie who was training me at that time, I don’t think I would have gotten as far,” Jayrahni said. “It makes me a bit teary, to be honest. She’s definitely one of the women in my life that have helped me to where I am today. I come to work to do a job that would make her proud.”
Aunty Deslie remembers that time fondly, too. “Jayrahni was shy, very quiet, but always asked questions. She wanted to learn,” she said.
Now, a decade later, the two have worked together again – at a flu vaccine clinic run by Ngak Min Health. This time, Aunty Deslie was the student – on placement as part of her First Nations Immunisation Course – and Jayrahni was the one supervising.
“It was funny. They said, ‘We’ll place you at Ngak Min,’ and next thing, Jayrahni’s training me! It’s lovely to see her progress,” Aunty Deslie said. “She’s very independent and knowledgeable.”
For Jayrahni, having Aunty Deslie return under her guidance was powerful. “It’s such a weird thing to think about,” she said. “Ten years ago, I was a little trainee health worker, and now I’m showing Aunty Deslie how to do immunisations.”
Both believe the learnings have flowed both ways. “It’s good to learn from the younger generation,” Aunty Deslie said. “I was a little nervous about doing immunisations, but Jayrahni gave me confidence.”
At the clinic, Aunty Deslie performed strongly – handling the work with care, skill and the trademark compassion Jayrahni once learned from her. “She’s got that real ownership,” Aunty Deslie said of Jayrahni. “Everybody loves her. They feel comfortable around her. It's lovely to see her in her little element out at Ngak Min. It's a great little clinic."
This experience – two women, two generations, learning from each other – proved to be one care, culture and connection.
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