Having experienced 2 Indigenous internships with NHMRC, Vernon Armstrong has now started his journey in mental health research.
NHMRC’s Indigenous internship solidified his ambitions for research. At the time he was studying a Bachelor of Nursing at Griffith University, however he always had an interest in mental health.
'Intergenerational trauma is an unseen illness that is passed on and is mental health-based' Vernon explained.
'I am wanting to improve it (health), for my community, my people. That’s what drives me.'
'Through interning at NHMRC I’ve learnt and felt more confident in taking ownership of a project and in going onto further studies,' he said.
Vernon is now studying a Graduate Certificate of Mental Health at Southern Cross University and working as a nurse at the Gold Coast Hospital. He is looking to go on to do a Masters in Mental Health and hopefully after that a PhD.
Vernon is originally from Mt Isa in central Queensland, the youngest of six and the first to go to university. He is a young man driven, full of life and destined for a successful career in healthcare and research.
'I became interested in research and in particular research in the field of mental health after doing the internship,” he said.
'My future aspiration is to become a Research Professor and go on to specialising in mental health in the Indigenous populations throughout remote and rural communities.'
Read more about the NHMRC Indigenous Internship Program.