Beverley Marcusson is a Wiradjuri woman born on Gadigal country (Sydney). She is a part of the Stolen Generations and her story can be read in the National Museum of Australia.
Beverley says her career in health only started after her kids had grown up, she first trained and worked as a phlebotomist and has recently achieved a Masters in Research.
“I had reached a milestone in my life after raising children for nearly thirty years and wanted to then find my place in the greater scheme of things,” Beverley said.
“This opened my world to the possibility of becoming a doctor and this spurred my enthusiasm to study at university to help towards positive change and the advancement of health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.”
Beverley started at Menzies in 2011 due to her interest in cancer-specific Indigenous health and is currently working on the What Matters: Development and validation of Indigenous quality of life and wellbeing index (IQWI) for health decision-making project.
As a cancer survivor Beverley has faced a number of challenges studying and working while living with chronic illness and says the support she received from her family, Menzies and disability services were paramount to her success in obtaining her Masters.
Outside of Menzies Beverly is an active campaigner of Indigenous rights and is a member of the grassroots organisation Grandmothers Against Removal. She also loves riding her Harley and tending to her vegetable garden.
Beverley’s goals for the future are to keep studying and eventually become a doctor, to keep working alongside communities and government to transform the healthcare system and close the gap, and to continue to advocate for Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islander People on national and international platforms.