14-01-2021
Medical student Annabelle Carter recently began a two week stint in Crookwell as part of her Bush Bursary scholarship provided by the NSW Rural Doctors Network.
In her time in the Shire, Annabelle will spend time with Dr Velu and Dr Opie in Crookwell and with Katie Yeo in Gunning.
Along with experiencing local Community Health Services, Annabelle has been given the opportunity to experience local landmarks and experiences including the Lindner Socks factory, the Alpaca Farm Experience and the Laggan Pantry and Laggan Brewery.
On Thursday morning, Annabelle was greeted by members of the Crookwell Day CWA and presented with a specially prepared book detailing the history of the local CWA as well as some local health service milestones.
NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) Bush Bursaries and Country Women’s Association of NSW (CWA of NSW) Scholarships provide selected medical, midwifery and nursing students in NSW/ACT with $1,500 each to assist with costs associated with their studies. Recipients also spend two weeks on a rural placement in country NSW during their university holidays. The placement combines the enjoyable aspects of country life and rural medicine.
The Bush Bursaries are funded by individual NSW rural councils and scholarships are funded by the CWA of NSW. They are administered by RDN.
Placements are coordinated by rural councils and are usually undertaken in December or January but can be at different times of the year.
Applicants must demonstrate:
• an interest in rural practice and lifestyle;
• an understanding of the realities of rural medical practice; and
• the motivation to undertake a placement in a rural area as part of the scheme.
Students who do not go on to undertake a rural placement are required to pay back all money granted to them.
Annabelle’s scholarship was sponsored in part by Upper Lachlan Shire Council. She spoke with ULSC about her experience here in the audio link below.