My name is Laura Cauchi, and I am a proud mother to three young boys, a Registered Nurse and dedicated Medical student who has a passion for helping others. Growing up I was blessed enough to be raised in Western Sydney where I was emersed in both the Aboriginal and Maori culture which has given me an ongoing appreciation and respect to the connection family has in the provision of holistic healthcare.

As a Doctor my goal is to relocate to a rural or remote location where I can provide healthcare to communities which need stable and safe healthcare which embodies principles such as cultural safety, kinship, and connection to land. Furthermore, I wish to pursue training as a rural generalist with a special interest in obstetrics and gynaecology services. In addition to this, I would also like to provide culturally safe end of life care to mob which embodies the traditional beliefs and customary practices to take place in a setting which is comfortable and appropriate for the family and individual involved.

I guess you can say my goals are quite diverse, but to close the gap I believe they need to be diverse to ensure nobody is left behind.

Medicine is known to be a highly challenging degree that pushes students academically, physically, and socially at various points throughout their studies. In my own experience, I have faced situations that challenged me throughout both semesters of my second year of medical school, ultimately leading to a crisis by the end of the second semester.

I will begin by reflecting on my first semester, which was academically and physically demanding for several reasons. Academically, I had to sit three exams after a sixteen-week semester, which I managed to pass.  Though it was tough, I quickly learned how to juggle my responsibilities as both a medical student and a mother. I did this by meticulously planning my daily schedule and dedicating any available free time to studying. Fortunately, this approach allowed me to pass my first-semester exams, which are threshold exams and cannot be failed. I was ecstatic—my hard work had paid off, and I truly felt that I had found my place as a medical student.

Then came the second semester. I was overjoyed, thinking this would be the semester where I could finally breathe a little and relax. I was wrong. I faced additional health scares that required me to miss certain classes to prioritise my well-being. Although I communicated with the medical school and did my best to manage the situation, I was ultimately failed on attendance just before Christmas.

I won’t lie—it took a massive toll on my mental health and self-belief, making me question, “Why me?” I spent a week feeling frustrated and upset. But then I realised that, despite everything, I have a duty of care to the public. If fulfilling the requirements to become a doctor meant repeating a year, then I was absolutely willing to do whatever it took to achieve my goal. And that brings me to where I am now. I have re-enrolled in my second year, and I have learned that
I am strong, I am capable, and I can overcome challenges—even when life takes an unexpected detour. I know that this experience will teach me even more, and in the end, it will make me a better doctor, which is all I could ask for.

I have also made it a a goal of mine to advocate for better care of medical students; and will meet with various members of the Medical School, Education Department and Government sectors to ensure this happens for my future colleagues.