During my year studying at the ANU Rural Clinical School in Cowra, my goal is to succeed with my studies, and make the most of the opportunity I am being given in being able to study there. Beyond just learning and applying that knowledge with skills, I also aim to learn more about Cowra, both from a rural healthcare perspective, and also through community involvement that will be available to me there.

With this scholarship, I hope to aid my studies financially, with additional textbooks and online resources that will extend my knowledge and understanding. I would also aim for at least some of these resources and additional learning to be specific to a future career I may want rurally.  This could also include conference attendances or Australian rural healthcare specific resources that will help guide my learning, provide me with mentors, and teach me more about the climate of rural healthcare that I hope to work in. Adding to my studies in this way should also help me maintain my motivation, which will be very valuable going into this clinical year away from Canberra, my medical school peers, and my family. It should also give me something to think on to come back to following my graduation from medical school, as I am curious about working as a rural GP, or rural generalist, from what I have seen of these careers so far.

Having this financial assistance will open opportunities to me that otherwise would not be possible, unless I were to work during the year (with this both not being recommended, and not suiting the time I hope to dedicate to studying). Through this, it would be able to reduce stress I experience, both through the financial reassurance, but also in that community involvement or events that I will be able to attend with it will be a good way to break up my studies with something interesting to do. By reducing stress levels, not only will I be able to better study and apply myself, but it will also help minimise burnout that I may experience through the year.

As well, I hope to use the money where I can to involve myself more in the Cowra community. From small things like being able to frequent local shops, to larger things like participating or attending larger events (like local theatre and supporting causes in town that are valuable to me), being able to feel involved in the town that I will be living in for the year will be very meaningful to me. It is also my hope that this community involvement better enables me to get a feel for what living in a rural town is like – having been born and raised in Canberra, but being open to living and working rurally in the future.

I have been on placement between the GP surgery and hospital in Cowra, as well as placement with allied health, and a week spent in paediatrics in Orange. I’ve been learning a lot, both in terms of theory and practical skills. Being in a smaller town means that I am given many opportunities to practise and am not overcrowding with my presence as a student.

It has also given me perspective on a town I was otherwise unfamiliar with. My learning has benefited from seeing patients from all walks of life (compared to were I placed in Canberra, where I may have more limited or narrow spectrum of exposure in GP placement). I’ve learned a lot about rural health, from hazards and risks associated with farm work and animal exposure, to problems that are exacerbated by living rurally, such as access problems.

Being able to see specific health initiatives here has also been helpful; I have visited Weigelli drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, attended Q fever clinics, seen which surgeries can be done locally, and learned about the mixed antenatal care that can be offered in collaboration with a GP obstetrician and midwives- I even spent a day doing home visits with the Aboriginal Medical Service midwife.

I’ve also found getting to know the town itself fun. I’ve attended markets in Cowra, Young, and Orange, as well as visiting unique attractions like the Age of Fishes museum in Canowindra, Murringo Barracks gallery, and a local craft brewery in Monteagle. Thanks to the rotary scholarship, I’ve been able to do these more fun activities while keeping up my studies. It’s also enabled my exploration of the Central West region (which I hope to continue to do through to the end of the year).

I’m also grateful for the connections I’ve been making through Rotary- particularly the club in Cowra. I have been attending many of the weekly Rotary dinners in Cowra, and it provides a good social outlet, and place to learn more about the community of Cowra. I have also gotten to know many of the members, many of whom have some relation to the medical field, from those whose partners or children are doctors, or those who themselves are (or were) optometrists, dentists, and other related careers.

I have spoken at both Cowra and Orange Rotary Clubs as a guest speaker. My talk was about the Rotary Rural Health Scholarship itself, as well as the ANU Medical Program, in particular the rural stream which I am myself participating in in my year long placement in Cowra. I found that the members of both Rotary Clubs were very interested in hearing about rural medicine and who may be training to work rurally in the future, and how universities and the government encourage this interest in students.