Oliver’s time in the hospital kitchen has given him valuable insight into the essential role non-clinical staff play in patient care.
“This role has helped me to understand the vast number of occupations and departments required to make a hospital run successfully. I've also enjoyed interacting with patients and staff. My role in the kitchen is to deliver food to patients as well as talk and take their menus for the next day. It's been great to be introduced to a hospital in a completely different role than what my future career entails.”
Oliver is in his final year of the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medicine) at La Trobe University’s Albury-Wodonga campus. The 20 year old is a born and bred Mildura boy, having attended St Joseph’s College. Next year Oliver will commence a postgraduate Doctor of Medicine program at The University of Melbourne’s Shepparton campus. A Victorian first, the sought after end to end rural medical pathway program is co-designed by La Trobe and The University of Melbourne.
"Studying Biomedical Science (Medical) at La Trobe has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The opportunities that will open due to the course’s focus on rural health will greatly impact us and the rural communities that my peers and I have experienced and grown up around.”
The Rural Medical Program, established in 2019 sees 15 students of rural and regional backgrounds, selected to study at La Trobe’s Bendigo and Albury campuses. Those students then gain guaranteed entry (subject to their weight average mark) into The University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Medicine postgraduate program in Shepparton. Since the program’s inception, 10 Mildura students have been accepted, with the first group set to graduate as doctors later this year.
La Trobe Mildura Head of Campus, Sandy Connor, highlights the program’s success.
“We’ve had strong up take from Mildura students into the course and we’d love to one day offer the same course in Mildura. In fact, in the first year of the Rural Medical Pathway, three Mildura students were accepted and those three are now in their final year of the Doctor of Medicine!
“The pathway creates opportunities for students from rural communities who are interested in practicing medicine in rural and regional areas. It flips the current city-centric medical training model by delivering most of the training in the regions, with rotation to metropolitan areas for specialist immersions kept to a minimum.”
Ms Connor emphasises the importance of regional education for fostering a local healthcare workforce.
“Our regional students tell us they thrive studying in regional locations. We know that the key to growing our workforce is to develop our own and the Rural Medical Pathway helps facilitate end to end medical training in regional areas.”
For Oliver, studying in a regional area was crucial.
“Coming from a regional town and moving away from home, I was hoping to find the move easy and feel comfortable as early as possible within my surroundings. I believe that studying in a great community like Albury-Wodonga has helped immensely.
“I have found Mildura and Albury-Wodonga very similar. Obviously Albury-Wodonga is a little bit bigger and closer to Melbourne and Sydney - which I travel to regularly. But both towns have great sporting atmospheres that I have immersed myself in.”
Oliver says whilst he’s been back in Mildura he continues to train with his local footy team, as well as play cricket, basketball and golf for fun.
“I also enjoy catching up with friends and family during my time back home. When I finish my course, I want to work regionally and would love to be close to home with family and friends.
“One of the elements I’ve really love about the Biomedical Science (Medical) course, is the small cohort size. It has allowed me to strongly connect with passionate teachers and my likeminded peers that will support me through the challenges of becoming a doctor. I am confident that this degree, along with their support, will successfully prepare me to become a skilled doctor, ready to give back to rural communities in need."
