Wednesday, July 29, 2026
A group of future doctors from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has returned to Yarrabah for a second consecutive year to learn firsthand about Aboriginal community-controlled healthcare through Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services.
The visit formed part of UCLA's Indigenous Health Program within its Global Health initiative, providing pre-med students with an opportunity to explore health equity, cultural safety and holistic healthcare in practice.
Clinical Director Dr Jason King welcomed the students before delivering an overview of Gurriny Yealamucka's integrated model of care, showcasing how health services are designed and delivered by community, for community.
The return visit followed the remarkable success of last year's program, with previous students describing their experience in Yarrabah as transformational. Their positive reflections encouraged this year's cohort to make the journey, continuing an emerging partnership between UCLA and Gurriny Yealamucka.
Students also learned about the importance of trust, relationships and cultural understanding in achieving better health outcomes, while reflecting on how these principles could be incorporated into healthcare systems within the United States.
The partnership has already delivered meaningful outcomes beyond education. Following last year's visit, students launched a fundraising campaign that generated approximately $2,000 to support medical equipment for Gurriny Yealamucka. Inspired by that success, this year's cohort hopes to continue the initiative.
Gurriny Yealamucka thanked the UCLA students for embracing the opportunity to learn from Yarrabah and looked forward to strengthening future partnerships that promote culturally responsive healthcare, global collaboration and improved health equity for Indigenous communities.
