Testimonial: Gabby

“It was such a great opportunity to see a variety of clinical material and really emphasised the reality that healthcare isn’t always accessible when needed.”

It was a completely different clinical setting from the medical services in metropolitan Perth. Patients may wait all day for their names to be called and will generally be happy to do so (unlike GP services in the metropolitan area, where patients get impatient after a short period of time). Not only do they have GPs, specialists and nurses, but Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) are unique in that they have Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs), who bring an essential element to the clinics. The health workers are able to connect with the patients when sometimes the doctors can have difficulty in communicating. Health workers also play an important role in doing health checks and ensuring that patients are maintaining their health status. It was really interesting to work alongside the AHWs for a day and see their different perspectives on health care and education.

I have developed an appreciation for the rural communities of Western Australia and the incredible work that people do to ensure that there are adequate services. It was just a taste of rural and Aboriginal medicine, but it was an eye-opening experience that I hope many other medical students will be fortunate enough to get!