The Kong family’s Koori doctors

Kelvin, Marilyn and Marlene grew up in Shoal Bay, NSW with their mother Grace and their extended family from the Worimi (located north of Newcastle in the Port Stephens area). All three have gone on to form part of the new wave of Indigenous medical graduates from NSW. Kelvin is presently training at John Hunter Hospital to be an ear nose and throat surgeon. Marilyn is training to be an obstetrician and Marlene is a qualified GP currently working in Sudan.

Kelvin and Marilyn acknowledge that their career aspirations have been inspired by a long line of strong women and by their firsthand experience and observations of the poor health of their community.

Their mother, the eldest in her family, didn’t have the opportunity to finish secondary school. However, after helping raise her siblings, she obtained her nursing qualifications. As one of the first Indigenous registered nurses in Australia she strove to address the health needs of her local Aboriginal community. Grace was a strong woman who instilled in her children pride for their Indigenous heritage. She never wavered in her support of their culture, and always explained the importance of their ancestry.

Kelvin feels that his achievements are a testament not only to his family, his mother, his community, and his ancestors, but also to the struggle that they and the Australian Aboriginal community have endured and continue to endure.

For further information:

View MJA full paper (HTML)
View MJA full paper (PDF – 340KB)
View interview transcript (HTML – GNT Health, ABC)