A record number of First Nations students are enrolled to study medicine at the University of Queensland (UQ) with six doctors graduating this year.
It is a proud moment for Noel Hayman, who became one of Queensland's first Indigenous medical graduates when he completed his studies in 1990.
He said he strongly believes First Nations medical practitioners can deliver better health outcomes for their people.
"We need more Indigenous doctors and the more Indigenous doctors we produce, the better outcomes," Dr Hayman said.
He founded the Inala Indigenous Health Service in Brisbane, a Queensland Health facility that caters to thousands of patients and offers specialist care onsite.
"I was one of the founders of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association and when we started that association we only had 10 or 12 doctors," he said.
"Over the years it has grown, we've probably got 250 to 300 Aboriginal doctors now and the same number studying medicine.
"I think we're going along quite good, but there's always room for improvement."
James Tronc, another First Nations medical graduate and a former paramedic, now plans to work as a GP for the Indigenous community.
"I had a career as a paramedic and was introduced to patient care, looking after patients really involved in clinical care, but I had a real hunger of the continuation of care, what happened afterwards," he said.
"My role models, my mum and my aunties worked in community, so I suppose I grew up with that influence.
"I think it's been a natural thing for us to want to help community."
Dr Tronc said he agreed Indigenous doctors were more likely to deliver better health outcomes for First Nations people.
"I know that myself as well, I don't need an article or to read a research paper, I know that I could get good results if I was working with my mob," Dr Tronc said.
Maree Toombs from the UQ faculty of medicine said there 35 Indigenous students were enrolled for next year.
"Now we have many of our young people coming through and they're deadly," she said.
"Behind that sits some really educated Aboriginal girls and boys who are thinking and aspiring to wonderful things."
