The Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship would provide substantial support for my studies at the Rural Clinical School. I have felt significant financial pressure being a student from affording the ever-increasing costs of living that includes, but are not limited to, groceries, rent, utilities and the soaring fuel prices solely on Youth Allowance.  While I was working, it was even harder to maintain other aspects of life including socialising, exercising and resting. I felt that I was under immense mental strain and was on the verge of burn out and had to quit work.

I anticipate that these pressures will only continue to increase as I move into clinical placement next year in a rural setting. Due to the nature of such learning, there will be less time outside of day-to-day learning as placement can take the same time as a full-time job. Furthermore, learning on placement is a different system to that of pre-clinical years and requires much more independent learning, self-direction and drive to pursue opportunities. Therefore, much more time and energy need to be invested into my studies next year to adapt to the new model of learning which will come with a steep learning curve. Moreover, expenses for food and petrol could be higher rurally and especially since I may need to may trips home to Sydney to help take care of my sister in person, petrol may be a significant expense.

The Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship would significantly help with my studies as it would free me up from working to learn and revise during rural placement. Freeing me up from having to work would also assist me with being able to maintain my wellbeing in the holistic sense by preventing premature burnout. This would make my learning and development as a doctor a long term and sustainable venture. The scholarship would also lessen my anxiety around finances and I would not have to make choices such as not being able to go back to Sydney because I am not able to afford petrol. Additionally, the scholarship would help me fulfil the role of a medical student in a balanced and healthy way where I can have time to not only learn but also to care for my own physical, mental and social needs. I would also love to pursue opportunities to immerse myself into a rural community as this is an unique and formative opportunity for me. In addition, I believe that with my time freed up to study, I would be able to be a better medical student who is better equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to give back and contribute to the community.

The medical experiences that I’ve been a part of mostly includes general practice and some hospital experiences. I have been able to witness the central place that doctors have in the community and how well everyone knows each other. This is a benefit for patients if doctors can know what is going on in their life in order to provide them with holistic care. This is also a benefit in the hospital where staff know each other and me by name and it is easy to ask for help. However, to balance this out, it would be easy for doctors to feed off their ego and their patient’s worship and think that they are some type of god and that they are untouchable.

I have also been able to better understand the limitations of rural medicine as there are resource restrictions in terms of staffing and equipment. It is quite tricky for some patients to be transferred to tertiary centres and to travel to Canberra or Bega for MRIs, specialist visits or other procedures. However, we are still quite lucky in Cooma to have a CT scanner and fantastic nurses who are very specialised and knowledgeable as well as 3 GP practices.

I have really enjoyed learning from doctors in the Emergency Department as well as the anaesthetists in the Operating Theatre. I have been able to learn airway techniques and intubated with LMAs.

With regard to the lifestyle, I have enjoyed the quiet in Cooma and the very short commute times. I have also been able to go skiing for the first time in my life. It was difficult to pick up at first but I have been able to improve with further practice. It is also very pleasant to see snow!