DR JARED Miles, a Yuwi man and lecturer in the University of Queensland's (UQ) School of Pharmacy, is addressing the significant underrepresentation of Indigenous people in Australia's pharmacy workforce.
Indigenous Australians make up only 0.3% of this sector, and Dr Miles, UQ's first Indigenous Educator Award for Teaching Excellence Award winner since 2010, is committed to reversing this trend.
Dr Miles understands the challenges First Nations' students face, drawing from his own experience as an undergraduate pharmacy student.
"When I was a student, I found it overwhelming, especially finding other Indigenous students," Dr Miles shared.
Through his work, he has built a network of support that has helped grow Indigenous pharmacy student numbers from four to nine.
In his role, Dr Miles reaches out to First Nations students, connecting them to scholarships and travel funding while providing guidance through their studies.
He also restructured the Bachelor of Pharmacy program to a blended learning model, incorporating videos, quizzes, and interactive activities, giving students greater control over their learning and preparing them for real-world applications in healthcare.
Dr Miles research is also focused on Indigenous health outcomes.
Through Australian Research Council Discovery funding, Dr Miles is examining how nicotine metabolises in pregnant Indigenous women to improve maternal health literacy and reduce exposure risks.
His community-based project in Maryborough, Queensland, could serve as a model for nationwide First Nations health studies, aiming to inform broader policy for maternal and child health in Indigenous communities. JG
Pictured: Dr Jared Miles (centre) with Chancellor Peter Varghese (left) and Vice Chancellor Deborah Terry (right).
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 04 Nov 24
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 04 Nov 24
