UNIVERSITY of Newcastle medical student Wrivu Martin was surprised by what Leeton had to offer when he visited as part of a two-week placement.
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Under the Bush Bursary program run by NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN), Mr Martin spent time working with the health professionals in Leeton.
It was a drive to experience a different climate that drove Mr Martin to come to Leeton.
“I had initially done some touring with the Rural Doctors Network to areas such as Corowa and Orange,” he said.
“I wanted to see how differently medicine worked in the rural areas.
“I have lived in the city all my life, so I was encouraged to go and experience country living.”
The level of service for a country area was surprising to the medical student and he feels this could be where his career takes him.
“The doctors in the area often work in more than one medical area such as anaesthetist,” he said.
“In the city that is just something that you don’t see. You don’t get that range of services. A doctor will just be a specialist and that’s it.”
The service level was not expected by Mr Martin who thought Leeton was going to be more isolated however the number of specialists he saw come through Leeton in his time changed his thinking.
“My placement was fantastic,” he said.
“It changed the thinking I had about healthcare in the rural areas.”
Mr Martin came to Leeton at a time where the weather was not at its best late in September.
“In the time that I spent in Leeton it was raining a lot,” he said.
“That was good because it kept me grounded in Leeton and I was able to get to know the locals and got to know more about the town.
“I really feel that I need to come back to properly experience all of what Leeton has to offer and its something I want to do.”
The program is put on by the NSW RDN along with sponsorship of $3000 from the Country Women’s Association to help with the RDN’s commitment to attracting and retaining medical, nursing and allied health professionals to the bush.
The scholarship recipients, like Mr Martin, will also visit allied and community health services including the local pharmacy, aged care facility and Aboriginal Medical Services.
In the city that is just something that you don’t see. You don’t get that range of services. A doctor will just be a specialist and that’s it.
- Wrivu Martin
Liam Warren
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
