I have long held a passion for helping those who need it most. When I was 15, I attended the Mock United Nations Assembly with the Hawthorn Rotary Club and declared my personal objective “to make a difference in the world” through a medical career¹. That goal still stands true today.

I am in the early stages of my medical and research career. All my research so far has centred on women, minorities, and improving equity and access to healthcare services, particularly for those living rurally. My current research examines the barriers Indigenous women face when attempting to gain admission to medical school, with a central theme being the challenges of living rurally. I currently work two jobs to support myself while studying. In Canberra, I work before class as a phlebotomist at a fertility clinic, helping women grow their families. During semester breaks, I drive to Melbourne to work for Adult Retrieval Victoria, an organisation that coordinates inter-hospital critical care transport, ensuring patients in regional and remote areas have timely access to life-saving care. Relocating to rural NSW means I will no longer be able to continue these jobs. This scholarship would enable me to support myself while continuing my research and studies. Importantly, it would also allow me to better engage with the Bega community and contribute meaningfully as a member of the local area.

My partner spent 2025 as a long-term Bega student, and I enjoyed many weekends watching his cricket and football games, as well as participating in community events such as Bega Park Run (with our husky). When I move to Bega, I hope to immerse myself fully in the town’s sporting and social culture and connect with the local Rotary community. Financial support from this scholarship would help make that possible.

At ANU, I am deeply passionate about building a collaborative, kind, and generous culture within the medical school. When I first arrived in Canberra, I didn’t know anyone, so I started “Med Run Club” to help students across all years connect through exercise and wellbeing. To become more integrated, I also joined three different sporting teams, including rugby! As the current Women in Surgery Officer, I organise events that bring together medical women in supportive and empowering spaces. I also partnered with an Australian company to make sustainable period products more affordable for ANU medical students. Each year, I have participated in the medical school musical, which raises funds for Companion House – a charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers in accessing health and community services. I look forward to exploring similar community initiatives in and around Bega.

Being awarded this scholarship would not only help me manage my living costs but also enable me to give back to both my profession and the community I will serve. This support would help me integrate into Bega help me continue to advocate for women and underrepresented groups in both medicine and society.