Firstly, the financial assistance which is generously provided by the Australian Rotary Health team will greatly enable me to focus on my studies and improve my skills effectively as a healthcare member by significantly reducing my financial stress. Unfortunately, because of my commitment to the Rural Clinical School I will no longer be employed by my current employer of 4 years, losing my main source of income. Additionally, recent complex family issues and familial financial stress means that I will not have financial support from close family and will therefore rely on government payments. This scholarship will give me the freedom to study more effectively by reducing the stress associated with supporting myself, and by giving me the freedom to maintain a healthy lifestyle through enabling me to participate in extra-curricular activities such as attending the gym and the local indoor soccer competition in Kadina. This would ultimately help me to perform at my best throughout the year as I will be able to maintain my healthy lifestyle habits and maintain physical and mental health outside of my medicine commitments.

Furthermore, the Scholarship provided by the Australian Rotary Health team will enable me to get involved in meaningful community outreach and extra-curricular activities, as well as build friendships with members of the local Rotary Club. I have been fortunate enough to learn a lot about Rotary and the opportunities they provide aspiring young students, and the important funding they provide for impactful research, as my parents met through a rotary exchange when they were 18. Being a part of the Rotary community would mean a great deal to me and my family, especially next year as I embark on this journey into rural medicine. Many of my interests and passions in medicine are shared with the Australian Rotary Health team, such as indigenous health and mental health. Therefore, I hope to become a part of this community and build relationships with potential mentors to help me whilst studying with the rural medical school, who can guide me on my studies and aid me in developing as a better clinician.

In conclusion, the Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship would significantly benefit my studies by providing me with financial relief in spite of difficult financial circumstances, as well as providing me with a good support network of like-minded individuals and mentors in the community. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship and strive to do my best to represent Rotary and its core values.

My time as a 5^th year medical student has been both challenging and deeply rewarding, and I greatly appreciate your generosity in helping alleviate the financial burden I have faced with the responsibility of full-time placement and inability to work.

My first semester with the Adelaide Rural Clinical School has been an incredible experience so far with a large proportion of my learning coming from placement in community GP clinics.   I am currently situated on the Copper Coast, sharing my time between 3 different clinics located in Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo. As well as working in GP clinics, I have also been fortunate enough to experience a 2-week paediatric rotation in Port Augusta, help deliver 9 newborns at Wallaroo hospital, a week of anaesthetics training with the local anaesthetist and several days of ED shifts. All of these experiences have greatly contributed to shaping my understanding of rural medicine, fostering better clinical skills, and developing a greater appreciation for the nuanced challenges faced by rural communities regarding their healthcare.

One of the greatest lessons I have learned this year is the importance of fostering strong relationships with your community members and patients. In small rural communities, a doctor’s ability to develop good rapport with patients plays a vital role in maintaining continuity of care for patients and their families. I have been fortunate enough to experience this firsthand and understand the impact that I, as a medical student, can have on those around me and their health. Being on placement rurally demands a greater level of responsibility and resourcefulness from a medical student as compared to metropolitan placements. This has taught me invaluable skills in dealing with difficult situations and who I can turn to for advice or assistance in times of need.

As I focus on my future career and the lessons I have learned in my rural placement this year, I am excited to return to the country in any capacity as part of my Bonded Medical Program once I graduate. The relationships that I have built during my time here, not only with the people of my community, but with my peers and mentors too, will be something that I hold on to and appreciate moving forward in my career.

Rotary’s generosity in providing me with their rural medical student scholarship has made it possible for me to engage in various extracurricular activities, such as playing in the community indoor soccer competition, camping with fellow students and healthcare staff, and participating in community events with the local footy club and Kadina Medical practice staff. Furthermore, the financial support has enabled me to connect with my family in Adelaide more frequently and maintain good relationships with my support network at home.

FINAL REPORT

Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Rotary community and their impact on my year as a rural fifth year medical student in 2024. The Rotary Rural Medical Scholarship has truly helped me focus on my studies, making this year hugely successful. As part of my time with the Adelaide Rural Clinical School (ARCS) I spent my fifth year on the Copper Coast, between the towns of Wallaroo, Moonta, and Kadina. Initially, I set out to build confidence in my clinical skills and further improve my ability to build meaningful rapport with patients. I feel as though this year helped me achieve these goals and so much more.

Overall, my experience on the Copper Coast was excellent. I absolutely loved getting involved with the community through playing indoor soccer in Kadina, supporting Bute Football Club, and giving talks at the local schools through the RDWA R2R program. Moreover, my time rurally helped me to develop an appreciation for the unique challenges faced by rural patients in the healthcare system, such as access to specialists and travel times for advanced therapies and imaging. The knowledge that I have gained from experiencing these challenges has undoubtedly had an impact on my practice and will shape how I manage rural patients in a metropolitan setting. Furthermore, some of my treasured clinical experiences included hands on anaesthetic work, helping deliver 11 babies with the GP obstetrics team, being the primary assistant for several different surgical specialists, contributing as part of the ED team at Wallaroo hospital, and  fostering strong professional relationships with many different patients across all GP clinics. These experiences, along with the excellent teaching by ARCS staff and the GPs who went out of their way to mentor me, ensured that I performed well in my final MBBS examinations to progress into my 6^th and final year of medical studies at The University of Adelaide.

By moving to a rural community, I faced several new challenges. Firstly, I frequently encountered my patients outside of the work environment whilst engaging in personal activities. This added pressure to always maintain a professional demeanour and ensure I represented the medical profession to a high standard. Despite this, I learnt to be comfortable in these situations and even use these interactions to further build rapport. Another challenge I faced was being away from my support network in Adelaide. Facing my final medical exams and one of the most intense years of medical school without my closest support network challenged me to develop healthy habits and seek guidance from mentors when needed. The habits I developed—regular exercise, healthy eating, and good sleep hygiene—have carried forward with me into the start of my sixth and final year of medical school, enabling me to perform at my best in all aspects of my life.

The Rotary Rural Medical Scholarship has had a profound impact on my year. The scholarship not only helped alleviate the financial stresses associated with living out of home while simultaneously being a full-time medical student, it also provided me with a sense of community and exposed me to many wonderful people. The financial assistance enabled me to fully focus on my studies and allowed me the luxury to engage more with the community recreationally through various activities. I was also fortunate enough to meet fellow Rotarians throughout the year and hear about some their stories and volunteering opportunities. The Rotary Club of St. Peters was very kind in inviting me to speak at one of their gatherings and regularly checking in with me throughout the year, ensuring my year was going well and showing interest in my experiences.

To conclude, my year on the Copper Coast has been an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience, allowing me to further develop my clinical skills and personal growth. The support of the Rotary Rural Medical Scholarship allowed me to fully embrace the opportunities and challenges of rural medicine. As I progress through my medical career, the lessons I have learned and the challenges I have overcome will continue to shape my future practice. I am deeply grateful to the Rotary community for their generosity and encouragement and look forward to continuing to represent the Rotary community to a high standard.