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To celebrate NAIDOC Week, Dr Janelle Trees explains how her cultural connections are helping people in the final moments of life.
When Dr. Janelle Trees began her career as a physician, she was fascinated by the scientific side of the field, particularly “the idea that neurotransmitters structure our thoughts.”
However, as her career progressed, Dr Trease found that her culture as a Dangati woman increasingly guided her approach to general practice.
She was drawn to the specialty by the “loveliness of the people”, and now works as a palliative care general practitioner at Mercy Hospital, helping people at the end of their lives.
“The general practitioners I met during university and residency were fantastic, so encouraging and kind,” Dr Trees said. NewsGP.
“I also appreciated the flexibility and intellectual stimulation of general practice.
“You can basically have any specialization that interests you and you can change your mind every five years or even 10 years if you want.”
After studying various areas of general practice, Dr Trees eventually returned to his long-standing interest in palliative care.
“One of the reasons I became a doctor is because I feel like it’s a privilege to be a part of people’s lives and to be able to help them when they’re going through a difficult, trying time,” she said.
“I was always really interested in childbirth, but as I grew up I realized it was pretty tough to be physically involved in it. So that was one of the reasons I thought, ‘If I can’t do that, why not see if I’d be allowed to help when I leave this world?'”
Spirituality has been integral to Dr. Thies’ work.
“My Indigenous culture is an intrinsic part of who I am and it influences every aspect of my life,” she said.
“Healing workers are an integral part of Aboriginal culture, particularly when it comes to responding to those in need or suffering.”
“You feel your soul’s calling to what you really want to do, and you follow that. And if that’s where you’re meant to be, that’s where you’ll end up.”
Palliative care is not an easy job, Dr. Trease says, but she is there for dying patients and their families.
“There are always a lot of sick people to care for,” she said.
“They’re caring for the people who love and care for them while they’re in transition because that’s an important part of the job.”
Dr. Trease said she always makes sure patients aren’t overly sedated and makes sure they know there are people around them and “they’re not alone.”
“I never sedate a patient so deeply that they can’t hear people around them, can’t sense that life is going on around them or that there are people nearby,” she said.
“It’s a fine balance between not being bothered by a physical body and being able to let your soul drift off to the next reality when it wants to.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients may come looking for her, but often don’t know she’s there.
‘[Indigenous GPs] “They remain so rare that the thought of finding other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors doesn’t generally occur to them,” Dr Trees said.
“But of course, people want to be able to receive medical care from someone who understands and is empathetic to their culture, whatever their position may be.”
Dr Trease says general practice is a “careful path” that enables people to make an important contribution to their local community.
“It allows us to take care of people holistically within the bigger picture,” she said.
“You never get bored because you’re constantly learning a wide range of skills.”
“These are really valuable skills, not just for Indigenous people but for Australia and our communities across the board.”
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals Indigenous NAIDOC Week Palliative Care
