Since starting medicine, I have been interested in studying and working in a rural area and am super fortunate to be studying in Lismore for the next 1.5 years.   Moving away from home for the first time has had its challenges but studying rurally has offered me a more hands-on experience with valuable learning opportunities for doctors who have been very willing to teach.   This close connection with the team has allowed me to learn more about the unique challenges of rural healthcare.  I have been travelling frequently to towns outside of Lismore to attend outpatient clinics and special schools, which has enabled me to gain an insight into the specific healthcare needs of these different communities.   This scholarship would help alleviate the financial burden of transportation, accommodation and living expenses, thus reducing my need for part-time work and instead enabling me to focus on improving my engagement with a rural community.

My passion for road-cycling and running has helped me to balance the academic demands of medical school while maintaining my physical and mental well-being.  Cycling has provided me with numerous opportunities to immerse myself in the local Lismore community and explore the surrounding regions of the Northern Rivers.  I regularly cycle with a local group in Lismore, and I have been competing in races with Bryon Bay, Grafton and Yamba Cycle Clubs.   I have also recently competed and been involved with the publicity of the Lismore Cycling Festival Criterium and Gran Fondo which was community event organised by my club.

The past year at Lismore has been filled with rewarding experiences across both academic and extra-curricular areas. Academically, I have greatly appreciated the extensive teaching and support that we receive from the doctors at the hospital as well as the staff at the University Centre of Rural Health who help coordinate our placements. This year, I have completed surgical and medical terms at Lismore Base Hospital and general practice at Ballina. My general practice placement exposed me to a diverse range of patient presentations while also allowing me to engage with patients and their families. I learned about the complexity of chronic disease management and social issues that can affect patients in rural areas. My most recent placement was based at the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) in Tweed Heads. Our first week coincided with NAIDOC week, which provided us with the opportunity to partake in community events such as the sports day and surf carnival where we assisted at the stalls and interacted with members of the community. Many were also patients of the AMS, providing me with an insightful experience of engaging with patients through a social perspective rather than a pure medical context. After attending a few specialist outreach clinics that were regularly held at the AMS, I also developed an appreciation of how important these clinics were to the Indigenous community in the Northern Rivers, helping to bridge potential accessibility and socio-economic barriers that patients may face.

Over the past year I have continued to explore more of the Northern Rivers by bike, regularly riding and stopping at cafes for coffee with the Northern Rivers Cycling Club (NRCC). I am currently involved in the NRCC Design Team, assisting with the vision and development of new cycling club jerseys. Over the first half of the year I have participated in several cycling events including the Tour de Brisbane, Grafton to Inverell, Peaks Challenge, Mudgee Classic and Thunderbolts Adventure at Barrington Tops. It has been a memorable experience completing and supporting fellow cycling friends from Lismore, Grafton and Inverell at these events. I have also qualified for the Road Cycling Age Group World Championships which will be held in Australia later this year, an accomplishment that would not have been achieved without the regular cycling and training rides over the past year in the Northern Rivers. I am truly grateful to the cycling community that I have established myself in over the past year, who have made me feel welcome and supported both on and off the bike.

My overall experience of the year has been exceptional so far and I am excited to continue to learn and make more memories in the next few months. It has been a pleasure to connect and immerse myself in the local community of Lismore.