The Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health

Closing the gap: How Jilya helped Anika fulfil her dream of becoming a psychologist

Anika's Story

Jilya took the pressure off so I could focus on becoming the psychologist I always wanted to be. – Anika

I’ve wanted to be a psychologist since high school. Growing up Wajak Nyungar, I saw how deeply mental health affects our community – and how few Indigenous psychologists there are in schools. I wanted to help close that gap.

The biggest hurdle was financial. Studying full-time while trying to work casual jobs wasn’t sustainable, and the stress started to take a toll. Receiving a scholarship from the Westerman Jilya Institute in 2021 changed everything. The financial support lifted the burden so I could focus on learning. My grades improved, my wellbeing improved, and I felt confident pushing for an Honours and then a Masters degree in psychology. Equally important was the mentorship. Through Jilya I was matched with a supervisor, Shannon McNeair (another scholarship recipient), who really guided me through my internship year. Having someone I could call when I wasn’t sure what to do made all the difference. Jilya also connected me with a community of people who genuinely care; it feels like family.

Today I’m working as a school psychologist at Christ Church Grammar School in Perth, doing what I’ve always hoped to do: supporting young people, including Indigenous students, in a way that’s culturally informed and safe. My identity keeps me attuned to culture, language and family – things that are central to who we are and must be reflected in how we deliver care. I’m proud to be part of a growing movement of First Nations psychologists. One day, I’d love to build a service focused on Aboriginal youth. To anyone considering this path, I’d say: “Give it a go, we need you!”

About The Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health

The Westerman Jilya Institute is an Indigenous-led not-for-profit transforming mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Jilya builds a national pipeline of First Nations psychologists through scholarships, mentoring, and culturally grounded supervision – removing barriers and fostering leadership. Its treatment arm delivers trauma-informed care to high-risk communities, while its research arm develops validated clinical tools and national data to drive culturally safe, evidence-based interventions. Together, these arms grow the Indigenous psychology workforce, close critical service gaps, and deliver community-led solutions to suicide prevention and mental health.