The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress’ – and mother-daughter student duo Sam and Hope Nillissen are perfectly aligned with Flinders University’s determination to break down some of these barriers.

We spoke with qualified midwife and now first-year medical student Sam Nillissen, 38 years old, along with her 19-year-old daughter Hope, a second-year paramedicine student, about their shared passion for healthcare – and how they are both progressing with their continuing education in medicine.

Sam, a proud Indigenous woman and mother of three, says she needed to overcome significant barriers to begin her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.

“I’ve been through a lot to get to where I am,” she says. “It hasn’t been an easy journey up to this point. I’ve faced more than my fair share of challenges. There have been a lot of barriers along the way and while at times it has been rewarding, it has been a difficult journey.”

Sam says that she draws strength from adversity and credits her network of female friends for supporting her and her daughters through difficult times.

“It really does take a village to raise you up. Without the support of my friends and my children, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

From a young age, Hope was determined to study paramedicine. Her ambition firmed after a family member was involved in a severe traffic accident, providing further inspiration for Hope to become like the first responders that saved her family member.

Sam says that becoming an Indigenous doctor would enable her to improve the health outcomes of South Australian women, children and families – particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“I’m driven by a passion to provide free healthcare, to give back to the community and see equality across our nation in health and education,” says Sam.

Sam says she firmly believes in social justice and lifting women up, reinforcing the themes of 2024 International Women’s Day.

“We are all here, just trying to get by with the resources we have. In times of adversity, I tell myself to ‘just keep swimming’, but always be kind along the way.”