Becoming a doctor is a tough challenge for anyone, but Shauna Hill has overcome more hurdles than most.

Key points: Five Indigenous women graduated from medicine at UWA last year

Five Indigenous women graduated from medicine at UWA last year They say Indigenous doctors break down health barriers with Indigenous patients

They say Indigenous doctors break down health barriers with Indigenous patients UWA says more and more Indigenous people are coming into the medical system

Even the Yamatji/Noongar woman herself concedes graduating in medicine from the University of WA has been an unlikely achievement.

Brought up by a single mother in a state housing home in Balga, one of Perth's roughest suburbs, she has gone from wagging school — and dropping out entirely in Year 10 — to completing a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree at the end of last year.

Her achievement garnered plenty of attention after a widely-shared Facebook post following her graduation.

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She has now started her internship as a qualified doctor, and said her story was a reflection that no job was out of reach.

"If I can do it, anyone can," she said.

"I didn't really like school but I always loved learning so I always knew I wanted to do more in education."

But aspirations of further education seemed to drift even away when Dr Hill had her first of three children at the age of 18.

"As a young Aboriginal mother, growing up in those areas it's not really expected of you to go on and further your education," she said.

A breakthrough came in 2002 when she completed an Aboriginal bridging course and was accepted into a Bachelor of Arts degree.

From there, she took up a graduate position in Canberra researching First Nations health, which sparked her interest in practising medicine.

"I thought 'well why am I reading and writing about this … when I can try and do it myself," Dr Hill said.

Breaking down barriers

Heather Kessaris is another of the five Indigenous doctors out of a total of 206 students who graduated from the University of Western Australia last month.

She followed her brother into medicine, saying that the more Indigenous people there were in the field, the more others would see it as a viable career path.

"My brother paved the way for me," Dr Kessaris said.

"I was always interested in health but I thought it wasn't really something I would be able to do … but he made it a possibility in my mind …"

Dr Heather Kessaris says more Indigenous doctors are key to breaking down barriers in Indigenous health. ( ABC News: Sarah Collard )

She said more doctors were crucial to providing culturally appropriate care to Indigenous patients.

"Having more Aboriginal health care professionals in hospitals and just in the healthcare field really makes a difference," she said.

"As soon as they know it's an Aboriginal doctor treating them or an Aboriginal medical student that is with them, it just makes such a difference to them.

"When an Aboriginal patient knows that you are Aboriginal, it's like an instant barrier is broken down.

"We've all got shared experiences that we identify with, same humour, same family dynamics and same values."

Conquering all areas of medicine

Vice Chancellor of UWA's school of Indigenous studies Jill Millroy said there had been 49 Indigenous doctors graduate from the school since 1988 and many were now going on to specialise further in medical practices.

Jill Milroy says Indigenous doctors are critical to closing the gap in health outcomes for Indigenous patients. ( ABC News: Sarah Collard )

"We've created pathways out so people can enter and at the point that suits them best, but end up at the same point, that of being a doctor," Professor Milroy said.

"We've got the first Aboriginal paediatrician, we've got them going into psychiatry, obstetrics and a lot of GPs."

Professor Milroy said having Indigenous doctors meant they could contribute to changing the culture and better identify with Indigenous patients.

"They influence the medical profession and health generally as well as practice on the ground," she said.

"I know they are going to make ongoing commitments to the Aboriginal community, their own families and nationally to Indigenous health everywhere.

"Aboriginal people have barriers … but I think it shows the determination and commitment that people have to succeed and usually they're not just doing it for themselves, they're doing it for their families and communities."