Since pursuing Medicine, I have established a few objectives for myself which I will stay true to my career as a qualified medical practitioner. The first is that I will ensure to always dedicate part of my working career to bettering the quality of and access to health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This is of course influenced by the inequities my own family has faced and those of my Indigenous friends’ families as well. I continue to stay in touch with the health issues that exist in remote communities through my involvement with societies like the Rural Allied Health and Medical Society and the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association and I would like to extend this involvement to speak on issues and inspiring future Indigenous doctors.

Secondly, I would like to complete a rural placement in an Indigenous community. Not only would I gain valuable skills and experience due to the lack of health practitioners, I would have an opportunity to establish a strong relationship with the people of the community and work to re-gain their trust in the health system which has been degraded generation to generation. i understand that having a compassionate and understanding doctor in these communities is so incredibly important to creating better health outcomes of our people.

Further to a rural placement, I would like to practice back home in my regional area, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie or surrounding areas. It is really important to me that I go back to where I was raised and bring fresh knowledge and expertise wherever it is needed. Additionally, in every location worked I would gain valuable insight into the specific health needs of that community and adapt. I would think that my placements are studying in Sydney and then hopefully a rural location would prepare me well for this placement.

I have taken a specific interest in Obstetrics which may change during the course of my study as I am not limiting myself , however, I am very interested in having a had in facilitation the practice of ‘birthing in country’ which allows Indigenous women to have their babies on land where they feel comfortable and around their loved ones.

I would like to work in rural and regional areas where I can create good relationships and connection with the patients in that community and hopefully inspire the youth in those areas to also give back.

I am currently in my fifth year of Medicine at UNSW and have recently completed my psychiatry and paediatrics placements. Both terms have been incredibly valuable and have allowed me to develop greater confidence in my clinical skills, communication and decision-making.

During my eight-week psychiatry placement, I was based primarily at the Kiloh Centre at Prince of Wales Hospital. I spent considerable time on the inpatient ward, where I interviewed patients, participated in multidisciplinary team meetings and observed how complex mental illness is managed using a holistic, biopsychosocial approach. I also gained exposure to forensic psychiatry and observed treatments including electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

One of the most valuable lessons from this placement was the importance of taking a detailed history, obtaining collateral information from family members and assessing patients over time. I learned that a patient’s presentation cannot always be understood from a single interview and that genuine psychosocial adversity and mental illness can coexist. The placement further strengthened my interest in psychiatry.

I have also completed my paediatrics placement, which provided a very different but equally rewarding experience. I enjoyed learning how to adapt my communication and clinical assessment to children of different ages and developmental stages, while also involving and supporting their families. The term broadened my understanding of childhood development, neurodiversity and the assessment and management of common paediatric conditions. It also reinforced the importance of considering a child’s wellbeing within their wider family, school and social environment.

I am looking forward to completing an elective at John Hunter Hospital from November to December. Having grown up in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region, and with my family still living there, I am particularly excited to return home for this placement. I hope to complete my internship at John Hunter Hospital after graduating, so this elective will be a valuable opportunity to become more familiar with the hospital and its clinical teams.

In January, I will also be travelling to Tanzania to undertake an overseas medical elective. I am excited to experience healthcare delivery in a different cultural and resource setting and to learn from the clinicians and communities there. I expect this experience will broaden my understanding of global health, health inequities and the importance of culturally responsive care.

Outside of Medicine, I recently completed a half marathon, which was a very rewarding personal achievement. I am now training for another half marathon at the end of September. Running has been a wonderful way to maintain balance alongside the demands of medical school, and I have enjoyed having a goal outside of my studies to work towards.

As I move closer to my final year of Medicine, it has been rewarding to see my clinical knowledge and confidence continue to grow. I am increasingly thinking about internship and the kind of doctor I hope to become.

I remain extremely grateful for the support I have received through Rotary. The scholarship has allowed me to reduce the number of hours I need to work and dedicate more time to my hospital placements, study and professional development. It has also helped me continue travelling home to Lake Macquarie to spend time with my family, which is particularly important during the demanding clinical years of my degree.

Thank you again for your generosity and continued interest in my medical journey. Your support has made a genuine difference to my studies and has helped me make the most of the many opportunities available throughout my degree. I feel very fortunate to have received this scholarship and look forward to sharing further updates as I progress toward my final year and graduation.