A Wiradjuri trailblazer was stunned and humbled after finding out she would be awarded a royal honour.
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Faye McMillan has been named a Member of the Order for significant service to Indigenous mental health and tertiary education.
Dr McMillan, a Wiradjuri woman and Australia's first Indigenous pharmacist, was appointed one of two deputy national rural health commissioners earlier this year.
She told The Daily Advertiser she felt a wave of emotions after receiving the news.
"Surreal. Humbling. Joy. Disbelief," Dr McMillan said.
"It was all those emotions and words, and even more. I think it was just stunned silence from me.
"You don't do the work to be recognised."
Dr McMillan, who lives in Coolamon and worked until recently at Charles Sturt University, is an associate professor in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health at the University of NSW.
She is also a founding member and former chair of Indigenous Allied Health Australia and the 2019 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year. Dr McMillan said her passion for improving mental health access for Indigenous people is two-pronged.
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"Firstly, it's about having more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the workforce across all of the spectrum," she said.
"For me, mental health and wellbeing are huge issues that affect all communities. As a society, we need to do better. We need to use kindness and be gentle and understand that mental health issues are not something people should be ashamed of."
Since being named the new deputy national rural health commissioner in March, Dr McMillan said she had gained an even deeper appreciation and understanding of rural and remote Australia.
"It's been a steep learning curve," she said. "It's been about how do we provide health care to those [in regional and rural areas] so that every Australian feels valued."
Dr McMillan encouraged everyone in the community to treat others with kindness and do their part to ensure that people with mental health issues are treated with the respect they deserve.
She said the Queen's Birthday Honour is not just for herself, it's for her loved ones and the community that have backed her every step of the way.
Dr McMillan said that while there are not enough words to express her gratitude, one phrase comes quite close.
"If I could say 'mandaang guwu' which is Wiradjuri for thank you," she said.
"Thank you to the multiple people that have supported my work and what I do with communities. It's not my award on my own.
"I have to thank my children, and my mum and my community for the gift they give me in support."
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