Rural GP Bursary Reflection

Lauren Wright Hill, Monash University (IV)

Lauren at her desk in Breed St Clinic As a student, rural general practice is all about the stories I’m told before my supervisor enters the room.

I’ve settled into a routine: eight patients a day, two days a week. Each follows a familiar pattern. I usher people into the consulting room with a polite, “Please come on through and have a seat.” I ask them, “What can I do for (them) today?” I take their history, do an exam, and send a message to my supervisor. Then, we wait.

One patient, employed at the local paper mill, told me he works in a room that’s three times the size of the local Woolies. Despite this, and the fact that the mill is operational 24/7, the entire operation produces only one skip of rubbish per week. Their production processes emphasise waste reduction. The rolls which the sheets of paper come on are returned, and re-used. The wrappers around the paper stacks are designed to have minimal excess. The paper itself? Made entirely from recycled materials, with all off-cuts recycled in later batches. It was interesting to see how rural industries are adapting, and becoming more environmentally conscious.

In other patients, I find a real sense of rural community.

R U R A L G P

One patient who works at the power plant kindly told me of a local spot to have a picnic. Through the gates of the factory, there’s a great view out over the deep-cut mines, and even an audio tour available!

From other patients still, I am privileged to hear impacting, human stories. One man who migrated from Holland after the Second World War told me about the Traralgon Dutch community, which formed in the wake of that conflict. He told me about being a little boy in the war, and not understanding the atrocities he witnessed until later in life. He spoke about how he still thinks about his Jewish neighbours from Holland, even as other memories dim with dementia.

I’m often asked how far through my training I am, and whether or not I’ll return to Traralgon. People, it seems, genuinely want to know — it really is true that rural communities are willing and grateful to have students. I’ve only had one patient, in seven weeks, ask to see the doctor without me. I’ve even had patients go out of their way to compliment me — which I think has very little to do with my skill, and more to do with their kindness.

I walked into House of Frank (a local bar/ Traralgon institution) for some pub trivia recently. As soon as I did, I was greeted with a boisterous finger levelled in my direction. “Oh! You’re my doctor!”, the trivia master exclaimed. The MC had recognised me from the day before: maybe I’d made an impact, but maybe it was the blue hair.

In previous city placements, I’d felt invisible. In Traralgon, I feel part of the team, and part of the community. I eagerly look forward to my remaining twelve weeks of placement here.

This rural GP elective was made possible through the RACGP Rural and AMSA Rural 2021 Rural Elective Bursary. Bursaries were available for Australian medical students in the final years of their degree to subsidise undertaking an elective GP placement in a rural area.

Bursary applications are now open!

Application Guide: https://docs.google. com/document/d/1zxK4JDBzeylFJ1xhGVxXc_ GeKdS7D47cgSZPn42xUpg/edit?usp=sharing