Growing up on Kangaroo Island has given me a strong appreciation for the challenges faced by rural communities, especially when it comes to access to healthcare. Living in a small, close-knit community has shaped my values and my determination to pursue a career in rural medicine. I have seen first-hand the importance of continuity of care, the value of community connection, and the impact that dedicated rural doctors can have on the lives of their patients. Studying at the Rural Clinical School in Port Lincoln/Ceduna is an important step towards my goal of becoming a rural generalist and giving back to communities like my own.

The Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship would greatly assist me in managing the financial pressures associated with living and studying away from home. My father is a farmer on Kangaroo Island, and over the past few years, our family has faced significant financial hardship. Our property was first hit by the bushfires that devastated the island, and we are now experiencing a drought. These events have impacted my family’s livelihood and my ability to receive financial support during my studies. When I moved to Adelaide for university, I began covering all my own living expenses, including rent, food, travel back to the island, etc.

Each summer, I return home to work full-time in shearing sheds as a shearer and wool presser. The work is physically demanding but has taught me the value of hard work and resilience. The income I earn during those months helps me get through most of the academic year, but towards the end of each year my financial situation becomes very tight. The support from this scholarship would relieve a lot of that pressure and allow me to focus more fully on my studies and community involvement rather than worrying about making ends meet.

Beyond the financial support, I see great value in being connected with Rotary. The organisation’s focus on service, leadership, and community aligns closely with my own values. I would be proud to represent Rotary in the community, share my experiences, and contribute to local events during my rural placement. I feel as if this scholarship will help me relationships with leaders in rural health which will future benefit my career.

Receiving the Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship would make a meaningful difference to my ability to complete my studies and continue pursuing a career in rural medicine. It would allow me to dedicate more time to my clinical learning and community involvement, rather than the financial stress that often comes with rural placements. I am passionate about returning to rural Australia as a doctor and helping to ensure that people in communities like Kangaroo Island have access to the high-quality healthcare they deserve.

The past six months have been an incredibly rewarding experience, both academically and personally. I commenced my rural placement in Port Lincoln at the beginning of the year and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I had the opportunity to spend time across several different general practices, which gave me valuable exposure to rural general practice and allowed me to develop my clinical skills and confidence. However, one of the highlights of my placement was my anaesthetics rotation at the Hospital. I am particularly interested in pursuing a career as a GP anaesthetist, so this rotation was especially valuable. I was able to gain hands-on experience, including intubating several patients, and was exposed to a number of interesting and challenging critical care presentations. These experiences reinforced my interest in rural medicine and particularly the broad scope of practice available to doctors working in these communities.

Outside of university, I tried to make an effort to become involved in the local community. My fellow medical student, Max, and I joined the Waybacks Football Club in Port Lincoln, where we trained twice a week and played football. This was a great way to meet local people, make friends and feel part of the community rather than simply being students living in the area. We also spent as much of our free time as possible fishing. I brought my boat across from Kangaroo Island, which allowed us to spend a lot of time on the water, fishing and diving. We have even kept a running tally of the fish we have caught throughout the year, which I’m currently leading!

We then travelled to Whyalla for our mid-year workshop before returning to Kangaroo Island for a month-long break. I spent much of this time working on the family farm and playing football for my local club. It was a particularly relaxing break and gave me the opportunity to spend time at home and away from the demands of university and clinical placement.

Following the break, I moved to Ceduna, where I am currently completing my placement. Once again, I have really embraced the rural lifestyle, particularly spending time on the water with the boat. Academically, my placement in Ceduna has provided me with a high level of independence and responsibility, which has been extremely beneficial for my learning. Max and I are predominantly based in the Emergency Department, where we are able to assess and manage our own patients. We take histories, perform examinations, develop provisional diagnoses and work with the nursing staff to initiate appropriate treatment. We then discuss our assessment and proposed management with the on-call locum ED doctor, who provides supervision, teaching and feedback. This level of responsibility has significantly improved my confidence and clinical reasoning while still allowing me to learn from experienced clinicians.

We have also become involved with the Ceduna Blues Football Club and are currently preparing to play finals, with the team hoping to make it through to the grand final. Again, football has been a great way to meet people and become involved in the local community.

Overall, the past six months have reinforced how much I enjoy rural medicine and the lifestyle that comes with it. I have developed clinically through increasing independence and exposure to a broad range of patients, while also building strong connections within the communities I have lived in. Balancing medicine with football, fishing, diving, farm work and time with friends and family has made the experience particularly enjoyable. I am very grateful for the opportunities rural placement has provided and am looking forward to continuing to develop my clinical skills and experience throughout the remainder of the year.