Growing up on a farm located on the Yorke Peninsula, humble beginnings instilled resilience, ethics and kindness forming the foundation of my drive for self-improvement and community service. My passion for medicine was inspired by my local GP; now a mentor to myself in becoming a rural GP. This has defined my trajectory through medical school, undertaking my surgical rota on in Pt Augusta, and upcoming yearlong placement in Pt Pirie & Crystal. After 5 years away, I am excited to be returning rural as a part of the Rural Clinical School. Having strong connections to rural Australia, I have seen first-hand the gap in services delivered compared to our metropolitan counterparts. This has driven my passion to advocate for meaningful change in rural and Indigenous healthcare, having served as President of my rural health club for two years and as part of the Executive Committee for the National Rural Health Students’ Network.

The Australian Rotary Health Scholarship will play a vital role in supporting my studies at the Rural Clinical School. One of the most significant impacts of the scholarship would be financial relief. Due to the commitment to my studies, I have resigned from my employers in Adelaide and as such, will now be fully relying on government assistance. Previously, I have experienced significant financial stress impacting both my mental health and medical studies. This scholarship would assist alleviate those pressures, allowing me to focus on my studies without the burden of finding new employment in a new town to assist with living expenses.

Secondly, the scholarship will enable me to fully integrate and immerse myself in a new rural community. Before starting medical school, I aspired to experience a full-year rural placement where I could engage deeply with a new community. The scholarship will allow me to pursue ac vi es outside of my studies, such as joining the local hockey club and community band. Participation in these ac vi es would not only enrich my personal well-being but also support my physical and mental health, helping me maintain balance during an intense academic year.

Thirdly, receiving the Rotary Scholarship would connect me with a broader community. I have seen family members thrive as part of the Rotary network, forming lifelong friendships and participating in impactful community events. I hope to experience the same sense of belonging and mentorship. Engaging with Rotary’s community would provide me with access to valuable guidance from experienced professionals, further supporting my development as a future rural health clinician.

In conclusion, the Australian Rotary Health Scholarship would have a profound positive impact on my journey toward becoming a rural GP. It would provide financial relief, enabling me to priori se my studies, participate in community service through extracurricular ac vi es, and foster meaningful connections with a network of like-minded individuals. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship and, if successful, I will strive to uphold and represent the values of Rotary in all aspects of my academic and professional life.

My time so far as a 5^th year medical student has been both challenging and rewarding. The year began with orientation week in Adelaide, with lots of simulations and learning to set us up for success in our upcoming rural placements. Following orientation, I packed up my car, and made the drive to Port Pirie, my new home for the year.

In Port Pirie, I was straight into placement, starting out on my obstetrics & gynaecology block. This placement was quite varied. On Mondays, I would have gynaecology clinic in Port Pirie, on Tuesdays I would have either theatre in Port Pirie or Antenatal Clinic in Crystal Brook, and then back to Port Pirie with Antenatal Clinic on Wednesdays, and Well Women’s Clinic or Gestational Diabetes Clinic on Thursdays. I was very lucky to assist with 5 births on my rotation which was amazing!

Following this, I completed a month in the Port Pirie Emergency Department. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in ED, as it allowed me to challenge my clinical reasoning skills, and take on my own “patient” under a supervising senior which has been a great learning experience.

I finished off my first semester with 2 weeks of General Practice in Crystal Brook. This has been the highlight of my year so far, spending my time not only in the GP Clinic, but observing procedures, time on anaesthetics, seeing patients in ED and the ward! The team here was incredibly welcoming and made me feel a part of the family, and I very much look forward to returning here next semester.

For the rest of the year, I will rotate through blocks of ED, GP in either Crystal Brook or Laura, days with SAAS, visiting specialists, time in theatre with the anaesthetists. All of these experiences will continue to contribute to my understanding of rural medicine, fostering better clinical skills, and developing a greater appreciation for the nuanced challenges faced by rural communities regarding their healthcare.

A big part of my goals for this year was to integrate into the local community. As a part of this, myself along with the other medical students have taken part in a few community events this year. The first of these, we spent a morning at the Mid North Education, helping the staff with their emergency services day for the students. We also assisted with the flu vaccination clinic in Crystal Brook where we did nearly 400 flu vaccinations in a couple of hours! It was lots of fun with many hands onboard, we had everyone lining up on their cars at the footy oval, they would drive up, confirm their details, get their flu jab and then go park in the queue for 15 minutes before they could leave!

So far this year, one of the biggest lessons for me has been the impact that even as a medical student, we can have in these rural communities. Being on placement rurally demands a greater level of responsibility and resourcefulness from a medical student compared to that of my friends back in the city.

Outside of my rural placement, I have continued to be involved in AURHA, having coordinated a trip to Yorke Peninsula visiting the local high schools, and as the National Rural Health Club Coordinator this year, organising Council Meeting 1 in Perth earlier in the year!

Rotary’s generosity in providing me with their rural medical student scholarship has made it possible for me to engage in various extracurricular activities, such as playing hockey, and going camping with fellow students. I have always been an avid hockey player, and I am playing for St Andrew’s Hockey Club in Port Pirie this year which I am very excited about! Furthermore, the financial support has enabled me to go camping exploring the beautiful Flinders Ranges, and also travel home to see family which I am very thankful for.