From educating the community to inspecting a bat colony, Domonic Anton’s first steps toward a career in public health have been anything but ordinary.
Domonic is a year 11 student currently completing his Certificate III in Indigenous Environmental Health with the Metro South Public Health Unit (MSPHU) as part of the Deadly Starts program.
His work has been hands-on and varied, from reviewing kava labelling and providing tobacco education materials to market stall holders, to sending cryptosporidium resources to pool operators and retailers.
“I’ve also visited a bat cave to assess public health risks and toured Queensland Health mosquito and food testing laboratories,” Domonic said.
“I attended Round 2 and 3 of the Metro South First Nations Health Equity Strategy consultations and have supported the teams work with illicit tobacco.
“A highlight was participating in a men’s group meeting that our Liaison Officers help coordinate.”
Domonic joined the Deadly Starts program after first achieving his Certificate II in Health Support Services.
He puts his success down to the support of his family and co-workers.
“I enjoy the tasks, learning new things about what Environmental Health Officers do, and gaining skills I can use in the future,” he said.
“After I complete the Certificate III and graduate from school, I plan to apply for a cadetship and continue my studies to become an Environmental Health Officer, to protect public health.”
The Deadly Start program continues to create pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to build rewarding careers in health, while strengthening cultural connections and improving health outcomes for First Nations communities.