Star ting Med Guide 2019 - AN OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION - Australian Medical Students' Association
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AN OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION
e d G u i d e
Starting M 2019
1
Supported by
Copyright 2019, Australian Medical Students’ Association
Contributing and Reviewing Authors:
Zainul Azhar, Denise Chia, Dayna Duncan, Angela Guo, Linna Huang, Elli Izrailov, Eliza
Metz, Gihani Senadeera, Jeyln Thong, Clare Vincent, Calvin Xu, Jessica Yang
Editing & Proof Reading: Jessica Yang
Design & Layout: Linna Huang
2
Table of Contents
“Starting Med Guide”
2019
Welcome to Medicine 5
Academic Resources 6
How to Study 8
What to Expect from Clinical Placement 10
What happens after Medical School? 12
University Life 14
Medical School Finances 16
Moving Out of Home 18
Metro Guide to Rural 20
Rural Students 22
Mature Students 23
Medical Student Parents 24
International Students 25
Maintaining Your Wellbeing 28
Reasons to have your own GP 28
Life Tips: 5 things Medical School did not teach me 29
AMSA 30
Your MedSoc Links 32
3
Don’t Le
ave Yo
Career ur
To Fort
une
The AMA Career Advice Service, however, seriously understands the profession and
its challenges. It can help you prepare for your post-graduation years. It will assist
YOU to achieve your goals by providing you with advice and support on:
l Surviving medical school and your intern year
l Looking after yourself
l Building and maintaining a current and relevant CV
l Addressing selection criteria
l Preparing for and performance at interview
For more information contact: Anita Fletcher (Career Adviser)
careers@ama.com.au
Career
4 Advice Hub: ama.com.au/careers/ Career Support: careers@ama.com.au
Welcome to Medicine
Congratulations on getting into medicine and starting what is sure to be an
amazing new chapter of your life. Starting medicine can be pretty overwhelming
but this guide will help you sort out the basics of what you need to know.
My first year in medicine was spent finding my feet, forming friendships and get-
ting involved in opportunities outside of just studying. If I had to go back a few
years, I would tell myself to stress a little less about that first round of exams,
and that medicine has the advantage of being incredibly flexible to whatever
interests you have, academic or otherwise. Attending your university events, or
getting involved with initiatives at a medsoc, state or national level, can help put
you on a path towards what you are passionate about achieving.
The Australian Medical Students’ Association exists to represent the 17000
strong cohort around Australia. If you need advice, support or are enthusiastic
about a particular cause, we are here to help.
I hope this guide sheds some light onto the exciting journey you are about to
undertake.
Good luck!
Jessica Yang
2019 AMSA President
For more information on what the Australian Medical Students’ Association
does, look out for our Orange Guide during your O-Weeks and online!
5
Academic Resources
With seemingly endless medical databases, journals and libraries, and the entire internet’s worth
of knowledge at your fingertips, it can be hard to know where to look when you’re first looking for
academic medical resources. With so much content offered, it can be overwhelming at first, however
as you start to sift the diamonds from the rough when you start your degree, searching for information
using your favourite resources becomes easier and easier.
Your first year of medical school is the perfect time for you to get familiar with popular and niche
resources alike and see exactly what works for you. Do you prefer reading or watching information?
Do you need those extra questions and quizzes to ensure that you are as confident as you can be in
that semester final? These are all questions you can start answering now through trial and error, and
trust that you will adapt as your course goes on as you find your study groove. To help you along,
AMSA has compiled a short list of resources that could prove a good starting point for you.
Books Databases and Guidelines
Textbooks are a very traditional resource for Being enrolled at medical university often entitles
academic information and can be a fantastic you to free access to many online medical
way to gain a foundational understanding of academic websites that otherwise require
course content. It is, generally speaking, not expensive subscriptions. Keep an eye out in your
necessary to purchase textbooks before you have university Medical Databases for these gems!
started medical school on your first day unless • eTG (Electronic Therapeutic Guidelines)
specifically told by your university. Textbooks can An Australian independent resource
be an expensive investment, and you may find that provides up to date treatment
that you often find cheaper alternatives once you recommendations and comprehensive
start university (such as borrowing them from background information on a variety of
your university library or obtaining them from medical conditions.
older year groups). • UpToDate
An American website that provides
That said, here are some textbooks that many summarised articles on various medical
students use in their foundational (and even later) conditions and topics using up to date
years. evidence based medicine. Note that some
• Talley and O’Connor’s Clinical Examination treatment recommendations vary between
Comprehensive explanation of clinical the US and Australia.
examination and medicine. An excellent • BMJ (British Medical Journal)
Australian resource for the entirety of A British website that provides fantastic
medical training. summaries of medical conditions with
• Tortora’s Principles of Anatomy & Physiology background information, diagnostic
A basic, but easily read textbook that is guidelines, and management.
perfect for understanding pre-clinical year
anatomy and physiology foundations
• Guyton and Hall’s Textbook of Medical
Physiology
A more comprehensive textbook for
medical physiology, that also has an
accompanying question booklet.
• Netter’s Anatomy Flashcards
A great starting resource for first years to
6 learn and retain basic anatomy.
Apps and third party websites
There are a number of study apps and third
party websites that aim to be your centralised
resource in anatomy or medicine. Some of
these can be quite expensive, however many
of them offer free trials, so make the most of
it! Here are some examples that some medical
students use:
• Kenhub
An anatomy focused resource website
that goes into extraordinary detail. Their
website allows free access to their
anatomy atlas and articles, and paid
membership allows access to videos and
quizzes.
• AMBOSS
A digital learning platform for medical
students for all year groups. The program
is a useful compendium for many
physiological and pathologies. AMBOSS
Podcasts and Youtube Channels also has a unique question bank, useful
Youtube videos are a fantastic visual and for solidifying knowledge during pre
inexpensive way to consume medical exam preparations.
knowledge, and are often a great starting point
when starting to research a particular topic. There are many free apps which facilitate study
• Osmosis that many medical students use such as Anki
Osmosis’ free Youtube videos provide and Quizlet, which are flashcard apps that allow
comprehensive 10-15 animated you to review your own notes (an excellent tool
summaries on certain conditions and to help you retain knowledge).
diseases and is a great clinical resource
for visual learners.
• Khan Academy
AMSA Resources
AMSA also creates medical resources for all
Khan Academy’s Youtube 10-20 minute
medical students, and often have discounts for
videos provide lecture style content that
third party medical resources for AMSA members
explains in detail certain conditions and
only.
bio-medical concepts.
• AMSA Med Ed https://amsamoodle.org.au/
• Armando Hasudungan
Provides a variety of resources including
Armando is an Australian doctor that
a newly released National Question Bank,
makes education videos that explains
Fact Sheets on common Australian
certain medical conditions and concepts
medical conditions, and academic
by drawing on a large piece of paper -
modules, that are a fantastic resource to
fantastic for piecing together medical
nourish university course learning
information for visual learners.
• AMSA Academy https://amsamoodle.org.
au/
If research takes your fancy, there are plenty of
Provides education on important
podcasts released by medical journals that are
Australian health issues that are not
fascinating and illuminating especially if you’re
often covered comprehensively through
doing a research project as part of your degree.
university curriculum e.g. LGBTQI+ health,
and Refugee health.
7
How to Study
You’ve studied so hard to get into this degree - Understanding knowledge, is power
whether it was through high school or a previous Take the time to understand what you are studying,
degree; but now you’re here, it’s time to get ready through actively engaging with the content, as this
to study medicine! Whilst there are many ways will increase long term retention of information
people can tell you is the right method to study significantly [1].
medicine, the best method to study is the way • Find a study group
that best suits you, the way you will adapt it over Find a group of like minded learners as
the next few years, and that gives you the best yourself (this may take some trial and error)
outcome. The following are just some tips that and study together. Make a chat group so
have worked fantastically for some, that you you can ask each other questions when you
can give a go too! don’t understand something.
Test your knowledge • Attend PASS sessions
One thing to keep in mind is that the easiest way Most universities offer PASS (Peer Assisted
to pass medicine is to study to pass exams. Study Sessions), or a similar tutorial
It can be difficult for the more inquisitive of program. Attending these sessions gives
medical students to avoid falling into medical you a chance to ask questions, identify
rabbit holes and end up in PBL reciting the problem areas and understand information
proteins and enzymes only a PhD student needs in a new way.
to know. Though this makes you a passionate • Ask questions
medical student, to save time and sanity, it is Your lecturers and tutors are there to teach
often more useful to cover your course learning you and help you understand content.
objectives first, and even better: gauge exam Approach lecturers after lecturers, or email
questions before studying for exams. them if you have questions, and more often
• Your faculty may provide you with a few than not they will be happy to enrich your
practice questions, or you might even get understanding!
a hold of a past paper. Knowing how your • Docendo Discimus - by teaching, we learn
exam questions are formatted gives you an Take the effort to teach something to
idea of what you need to study and to what someone else, without notes. This has
depth you need to study it. proven to be an extremely effective method
• Start viewing testing as a part of learning, of teaching yourself, and you will test better
not just the looming finish line you get to because of it [3].
once you’ve finished learning. Testing and • Relate information to the bigger picture
retesting your knowledge is a more effective Understand why you are learning this in
way to recall information, and recall for the your course. Why does it matter? Apply
long-term, than simply studying it over and whatever medical knowledge you learn
over again [1]. to a case study patient to create mental
• Doing questions before you study is a hard links which will additionally help you retain
thing to do, as you will most certainly do information.
poorly the first time and us medical students
are terrified of failure. However the direction
these questions will give you is invaluable
Should you need extra questions to practice on,
head over to AMSA’s National Question Bank
through AMSA’s MedEd Moodle
(https://amsamoodle.org.au/)
8
Repeat stuff, repeat stuff, repeat stuff. References
Sometimes, medicine can just be gruel and cruel 1. Augustin M. How to Learn Effectively in Medical
memorization. From the order of the cranial School: Test Yourself, Learn Actively, and Repeat
nerves to the anatomy of the femoral triangle, in Intervals. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine.
2014;87(2).
somethings just need to be remembered, and 2. Study Tips [Internet]. General Practice Students
repeating what you learn is one vital way to Network. 2018 [cited 8 December 2018]. Available
achieve that. from: https://gpsn.org.au/advice/study-tips-for-
• Spaced repetition, is a method by which you medical-students/
learn something, leave it for some time, then 3. Jarrett C. Learning by teaching others is extremely
effective – a new study tested a key reason why.
come back and repeat it. Research Digest. British Psychological Society
The best proven method to do this, is to [Internet]. 2018 [cited 8 December 2018];. Available
repeat what you’ve learnt a short period from: https://digest.bps.org.uk/2018/05/04/learning-
after learning it (e.g. a day after) then maybe by-teaching-others-is-extremely-effective-a-new-
a week after then again a couple of weeks study-tested-a-key-reason-why/
later. This is expanding retrieval practice
and is very effective at helping you recall
information that is at risk of being forgotten
[1].
• Apps that can help with this are Anki which
allows you to repeat flashcards on weaker
topics at more frequent intervals whilst still
testing your stronger knowledge, and Quizlet
which is a flashcard website.
9
Preparing for
Clinical Placement
Going on clinical placement for the first time can What do I wear?
be very exciting and scary. As a first year student, Clothes for clinical placement should look
you will spend most of your time on campus in professional, such as business style attire - think
a lecture/tutorial/lab based setting, depending chinos and a collared shirt/blouse, or a nice dress.
on your university. Most medical degrees can • Wear closed-in comfortable shoes you’re
be thought to be divided into “pre-clinical” and happy to walk around all day in.
“clinical” in that the latter years of your degree will • Wearing a tie is unnecessary and unhygienic,
primarily be based in a hospital or another clinical and it is recommended that your sleeves are
setting with much teaching taking place on the above your elbow to maintain hand hygiene
wards. However, before you can get to that point standards.
“
you spend a few years learning the basics and • Hospitals are a fairly constant cool
the science behind it all, so... temperature, have a cardigan or jumper in
case you get cold.
...Don’t stress too much about clinical • If you’re unsure, it’s often helpful to dress
placement, you’ve got plenty of time more conservatively on your first day and then
to work it out! gauge what others are wearing to determine
the style of clothes.
In your first year, you’ll probably spend small
period of time at the hospital, so it’s good to know What do I need?
the basics, but remember, you’re only in first year! If your clinical school has a common room you
People know that you have a lot to learn and can access it can be useful to leave lunch and any
the focus will be to get a basic understanding study material there if you are at the hospital for a
of how the system works, and to practice full day, rather than carrying it around. It is easier
patient interaction to develop history taking and to just take a small bag or utilise pockets to get
examination skills. around on the ward.
Here are the facts about what to expect and what These things are by no means necessary so don’t
to know for clinical placement. freak out and spend too much money yet, but you
can consider bringing these with you (especially
Before your first placement in a few years when you’re on the ward often):
• Eat a good breakfast! • Phone
• Try and find an older student to ask about • Stethoscope
parking if you want to drive - some hospitals • Penlight torch
don’t have much around them. • Study notes or handbook
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the • Small notebook and black pens
hospital, and make your way to the correct • Some change for a coffee or two! (and a
ward. keepcup)
• If you are struggling to find a particular ward,
the main entrance of the hospital will have
an information desk. Once you get there,
introduce yourself to the nurse in charge and
see if anyone will give you a quick tour, and
then find the team or doctor you are assigned
to.
10What should I do on clinical placement? Who’s Who?
Remember, this is your first year, you will not be There are a lot of people involved in keeping a
getting overly hands on experience yet and you hospital functioning, and many different roles
will not be expected to know everything, or much within the teams you’ll work in. This is a basic
at all really, so take every learning opportunity guide:
you can • Intern: Post-Graduate Year (PGY) 1
• Ask questions • RMO/HMO: Resident Medical Officer or
• Focus on learning how the doctors around Hospital Medical Officer, PGY 2
you conduct themselves and take note of • JMO: Junior medical officer, can be intern or
skills you want to emulate in the future resident
• Meet patients and learn from them! • SRMO/Unaccredited registrar: Senior
• On a more practical note, there may be various resident medical officer, PGY3+
forms you need signed off at the hospital, and • Registrar: On a specialty training program
it’s a hassle if you lose them! The moment • Advanced Trainee: Almost finished training
you get a form signed off, take a photo of it program
on your phone, or use an app that converts it • Fellow: Completed specialty training
into a pdf. Remember that the hospital isn’t • Consultant: Completed specialty training
necessarily a safe place and to look after your and has extensive experience; one of the
belongings, not leaving them on the wards or bosses for that department
in theatre. • NUM: Nursing Unit Manager/Nurse in Charge
(boss of the nurses on that ward)
Finally, enjoy yourself! Med School is a wonderful experience, many people will tell you it’s some of
the best years of your life and they aren’t wrong. Clinical placements can sound scary, but are very
exciting when you meet people and see cases that bring all of the textbooks to life. Patients are
incredible resources to learn from and anyone from the intern through to consultant can help you on
your way.
Good luck!
11What Happens
After Medical School?
Studying medicine opens the door to a huge Medical Specialties
variety of careers! Most medical graduates go There are over 64 medical specialties to choose
on to specialise and practice clinical medicine, from in Australia, all of which involve between 3
while others pursue careers in research, medical and 6 years of training and fall under one of the
administration, public health policy, teaching, or specialist colleges:
some combination of all of the above! • Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
(ACEM) www.acem.org.au
The following is a rough guide of a pathway • Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD)
after medicine and your options: www.dermcoll.asn.au
• Australasian College of Sports Physicians
1. Internship/PGY1 (ACSP) www.acsp.org.au
• Australian and New Zealand College of
Once you graduate, you’ll receive provisional Anaesthetists (ANZCA) www.anzca.edu.au
registration. If you want to fully qualify to • Australian College of Rural and Remote
practice clinically, you need to enter the Medicine (ACRRM) www.acrrm.org.au
workforce as an intern/PGY1 (post-graduate • College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia
year 1) and complete a mandatory 47 weeks and New Zealand (CICM) www.cicm.org.au
full-time to receive general medical registration • Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
from the Medical Board Australia (MBA). (RACDS) www.racds.org
• Royal Australasian College of Medical
2. PGY2/Resident/HMO Administrators (RACMA) www.racma.edu.au
• Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Most people then go on to complete a PGY 2 (RACP) www.racp.edu.au
year before applying for vocational training • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
(AKA admission to a specialist college). This www.surgeons.org
involves spending more time gaining clinical • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of
experience and taking on more responsibility in Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
areas of interest. Some people do 2 or 3 years www.ranzcog.edu.au
as an HMO. • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of
Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) www.ranzco.
3. Registrar or CMO edu.au
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of
The next step involves choosing whether or Psychiatrists (RANZCP) www.ranzcp.org
not to specialise (vocational training), which • Royal Australian College of General
is required to obtain a fellowship and allows Practitioners (RACGP) www.racgp.org.au
you to practice medicine independently. The • Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
alternative is to not specialise and become a (RCPA) www.rcpa.edu.au
non-vocational Career Medical Officer (CMO) • The Royal Australian and New Zealand College
instead. of Radiologists (RANZCR) www.ranzcr.edu.au
For more information see:
1. https://ama.com.au/careers/becoming-a-doctor#five
2. https://ama.com.au/careers/doctors-training-and-career-advancement
3. https://ama.com.au/careers/pathways/select
4. https://www.myhealthcareer.com.au/medical-career
12 5. http://www.otheroptionsfordoctors.com/CHOOSE GENERAL PRACTICE
TRAINING WITH THE RACGP
Become a specialist in life.
As a leader in the provision of general practice education and training, Choose the RACGP for your Australian General
the RACGP represents more than 39,000 members and has supported Practice Training and become a specialist in life.
over 23,000 GPs in achieving Fellowship since 1958. Find out more at racgp.org.au/agpt
GP training is funded
by the Australian
Government through the
Department of Health
13
6214University Life
University is a huge milestone in our lives. It’s Maintaining a Work/Uni/Life Balance
the best opportunity to meet people from all Whether you’ve just come from high school or
walks of life, form lifelong friendships, discover another degree, studying medicine can be a
new hobbies, and the list goes on! Despite being huge change from the amount of freedom you
one of the longer degrees, these few years of have in your education, and the amount of self-
med school can fly by. Here’s a few tips on how directed learning that is involved. Medicine is
to maximise your time at uni. notoriously workload heavy and it can be very easy
to find yourself swamped with work and burning
Get involved! out. Maintaining a good work/life balance is so
One of the greatest things about university is important for your wellbeing and making sure you
the amount of freedom and diversity of choices can enjoy your time at uni.
you have in pursuing your interests.
Learn to prioritise
Join your local MedSoc We are all guilty of procrastinating, especially
Getting involved in your MedSoc can be a highly when our favourite TV shows are back from hiatus.
rewarding experience. It’s a great way to meet However, it’s important to remember that some
people in other years outside of labs and tutorials things do actually need to get done. Prioritising
(and notes from older years are invaluable!). your tasks is a good way to clearly set out what
There are also heaps of opportunities to learn needs to be done, and gives you a rough idea of
new skills, like project management, or indulge how much time you should dedicate to those tasks.
in your talents by performing in MedRevue.
Many MedSocs also run wellbeing initiatives Develop a routine
or charity drives, which are fantastic ways to Getting into a habit of doing things will make life
engage with your local community. easier in the long run. Things that initially feel like
an effort, like going to the gym, eventually become
Become an AMSA member a staple part of your day. It’s also so important to
AMSA is the national representative body for maintain a regular sleeping pattern to keep yourself
medical students across Australia. We connect energised, happy, and not late to class.
all medical schools to form a unified voice. Flick Read more about sleep hygiene here:
over to Page 30, and read more about how and https://amsa.co/2Fp87Du
why! Look out for our Orange Guide which will
give you the lowdown on all things AMSA. Set personal goals as well as academic
If you have a hobby or an outlet, set goals for those
Sign up for sports and Uni societies as well e.g. cook dinner for family once a week. It’s
While life in med school is an amazing time, a nice little reminder that you have a life outside of
it’s also a good idea to give yourself a break medicine.
from medicine from time to time. Signing up
for sports and societies is a great way to meet
people outside of medicine and discover new
hobbies. Many universities have a huge number
of societies for basically any interest you can
think of - food, gaming, scuba diving, you name
it!
14Forgive, and take care of yourself The most important thing to remember is to look after your own wellbeing. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed, especially in the first few months of uni. During this time, try not to beat yourself up if you aren’t meeting academic or personal goals and remember that starting medicine is a huge task, and everyone needs to adjust in different ways. Be aware of your own signs of burnout, and remember that it’s okay to take the time to take a step back, talk to your peers, find something you enjoy, and then come back and adjust accordingly. FUTURE PRESCRIBERS SHOULD BE SUBSCRIBERS An independent, peer-reviewed, bimonthly online journal providing critical commentary on drugs and therapeutics for health professionals. PODCAST PODCAST Listen to Follow us on twitter our podcasts @AustPrescriber SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE nps.org.au/apsubs 15
Med School Finances
Some students are fortunate enough to have Working through your university provides you
got on the bitcoin train early or have an unlimited with student-geared jobs that generally provide
line of credit with their parents on the completely more flexibility, and sometimes allow you to
unsubstantiated promise that “I’ll pay you back revise and consolidate your learning content
when I get onto the Neurosurgery program”. For (e.g. tutoring, research assistants; others include
those of you still unsure what a cryptocurrency hospital technical assistants and Red Cross blood
is or less skilled in the art of deception, you will collection). Evening jobs away from university
need to think about your finances carefully for the hours can generally be found through hospitality.
duration of the long and time intensive course
that is medicine. We’ve collated some relevant Scholarships and Grants
information as well as some handy financial tips You are fortunate enough to be entering a
to aid your journey through the mi goreng and degree that, by virtue of the nature of industry,
single-ply toilet paper life that is student living. is generally well supported at a University level
and comparatively well-funded. This means
that there are a host of scholarships available
Working whilst studying
to students at all levels of the degree, some of
Whether you are considering earning money
which require little more than a written application
to make ends meet, or to consider buying that
and sometimes go unallocated. Better yet, many
unnecessarily expensive cardiology registrar
of these scholarships are linked with rural or
standard stethoscope, trying to work whilst in
overseas placements meaning you can acquire a
medical school can seem like a bit of a juggle.
host of clinical experience and travel opportunities
in addition to funding. Check your State funded
The ability to work either casual or part time
grants, University website scholarships page as
during your medical degree will entirely depend
well as the following:
on your individual circumstances. Many students
do manage to hold down jobs in addition to
AMA Indigenous Peoples’ Medical Scholarship
managing the coursework, but the majority of
• Value: $10,000 lump sum
programs are 5 days-a-week commitments with
• Eligibility: Must identify as Aboriginal or Torres
variable and unpredictable hours, so keep that in
Strait Islander, and have been completed at
mind when applying for jobs.
least their first year of medical studies
• Applications close 31st January
Your ability to work in conjunction with study will https://ama.com.au/indigenous-medical-scholarship-2019
greatly depend on your individual circumstances
and previous experience. For instance, a recent Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship for Rural
school leaver may require more time to digest and Regional Australians
the course content in the first few years as • Value: $5,000 per year
compared with a student with a completed • Eligibility: Australians living in rural/regional
medical science degree. Courses also generally Australia attending university for the first time,
require more time commitment towards the end studying full time
of the degree with commencement of clinical • Applications close 29th Janurary
placements. https://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/community/
scholarships/bendigo-bank-scholarships
In general, the best work for medical students
are jobs that are predominately evening or
weekend based with flexible time commitments
and allow you to revise or learn new content
16 relevant to the degree.Centrelink Relocation Scholarship
• Value: $4,553 for the first year; payments qualify for Youth Allowance if your parent’s assets
ranging $1,338-$2278 yearly (depending on and income test is below the threshold.
circumstances)
• Eligibility: Those moving from rural to metro *You may stay on Youth Allowance after you turn
OR metro to rural, for study; AND who receive 25 years of age until you finish your course.
Youth Allowance/ABStudy
• Apply whenever you become eligible. Austudy
Austudy is the equivalent of Youth Allowance for
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/
centrelink/relocation-scholarship
older students over 25 years of age. Additionally,
you’ll need to come under the income and assets
John Flynn Placement Program
test limits in order to prove your requirements for
• Undertake fully funded block placements of 8
the benefit payments.
weeks in total in a rural or remote area where
you will be mentored by an experienced rural
*You can only get Austudy for a set amount of time
doctor in that community.
(allowable time). If you’re a full time student you
• Eligibility: You will need to be able to undertake
must make satisfactory progress in your course
placements over 3-4 years of your degree
to keep your payment.
(usually over semester break)
• Applications: TBC
https://www.jfpp.com.au/
Rent Assistance
Rent assistance is paid in addition to Youth
Australian Defence Force Education Funding Allowance or Austudy for those students not living
• In exchange for your commitment to serve at home with regular rental payments.
in the Navy, Army or Air Force after your
graduation, have your university fees fully To find out more about your eligibility or to make a
paid for and earn a salary whilst you complete claim head to www.humanservices.gov.au.
your degree.
• Eligibility: May apply at any point in your Handy tips and tricks for your wallet
degree Walk or Ride
https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/students-and-education/
Cardiovascular fitness is the single greatest
defence-university-sponsorship/
predictor of ALL-CAUSE mortality across the
developed world. Why not get in shape, reduce
Centrelink – Youth Allowance, Austudy emissions and save a few dollars by walking,
and Rent Assistance running or riding to Uni or placement.
Many students are reliant on government benefit
payments to meet the demands of daily living Budget
and rental expenses. In order to qualify for The Barefoot Investor is a fantastically
these payments, you must meet specific criteria recommended money guide book that is very easy
in addition to passing the income and assets to follow, can help you manage high expenses with
assessment. low income, and help you kickstart your financial
planning.
Youth Allowance
To access youth allowance as a student you A number of apps are also available online with
need to be studying full time and aged 18 to 24. ready-made budgets and direct syncing with your
If you’re under 22 years of age you will also be online accounts. Try one of these for free:
required to prove your independence through 1. Mint
evidence of full time work, relationship status, 2. Level money
having a dependent child, or inability to live at 3. Penny
home due to extreme circumstances.
If you’re considered dependent (under 21 and not
independent as described above) you can still
17Moving out of Home
Whether you’ve just gotten an offer to study Moving far, far away
medicine hundreds of kilometres away or you’re If you are moving to a university particularly far
planning to move to be just a bit closer to your away, you may have particularly unique concerns
new medical university, moving out of your surrounding how to pick up your life and not only
family’s home for the first time is a huge change. move out, but move out across the country:
There are a lot of things to consider when • If you are choosing to study at a university
thinking about moving out of home, so here’s a interstate and are thinking of living on
list of things that will hopefully help you out! campus, be sure to research living options as
soon as you can! Residential colleges tend to
Choosing where to live fill up fast, and some can even fill up before
On campus vs off-campus living interstate offers come out.
• On campus living is a fantastic stepping • If you have the luxury of leaving items back
stone if you are moving out of home for the home (e.g. if moving out of your parents’
first time. home), resist the temptation to move
‣‣ You will not need to worry about things everything in your life all at once. On your
such as internet connection, water, first trip to your new residence, you only need
power and gas bills, which you would if to bring enough to tie you over till the first
you were leasing your own property. university break.
‣‣ On campus living can be very social. • Remember that heavy or bulky items that are
Living in close proximity to many troublesome and expensive to transport can
students and friends can be very fun be bought at your local Kmart or Big W once
and help immensely with homesickness you arrive.
• On campus living tends to be more expensive ‣‣ Once you go back home for your first
compared to living off campus holidays, you can get a better sense of
• Living off campus means more what you have missed from home
independence! • Items that are consumable (such as
‣‣ This means more control over the way deodorant, pads, food etc.) can be bought
you live (no curfew!) but also means once you arrive! If you have that extra space,
separate bills to add to rent, and consider using it for things that could make
maintenance to make sure you keep your new place feel a little more like home.
your rental bond. • Buy check-in luggage for any extras, if you
‣‣ Independence of choosing who you get are planning on flying to university. It is much
to live with avoids the problem of living cheaper than posting it (which is priced per
on college where university students kg)
can be known to be disruptive at night • Try to have a list of big events of the year
on occasion when sleeping before a big (check your local MedSoc calendar!) so you
exam! know what dress code items to bring from
home before you come back again. This way
you do not need to rush to find the perfect
cocktail dress/suit or tux last minute.
18Moving house hacks Keeping yourself alive and fed
Not only useful for those who are moving away • Find simple meals you enjoy such as
for university, but useful for moving away for spaghetti and stir frys.Though you should
placements that can take you all over your state definitely try being adventurous in the kitchen
or the country! Here are some tips when moving every now and then, have some simple meals
house from seasoned experts: you can do without a recipe quickly for when
• Plastic tubs are your friend! They are cheap you are tired.
and great to pack heaps into, sturdy for the • Cook in bulk and freeze meals. Doing this a
trip and easy to pile on top of each other month out from exams means you have plenty
during car tetris. They can also be stored of food when you’re exhausted and stressed.
on top of cupboards or under beds. Perfect • Winter soups are great! They are filling, cheap
for extra bedding or swapping winter and and can be made in bulk. Add some toast
summer wardrobes. or another snack and your uni lunches are
• Garbage bags! While a good clean out of sorted.
your life before a move is recommended, Visit subreddits r/eatcheapandhealthy and
these have a different purpose. Get the r/mealprep for some inspiration!
black ones with a yellow tie. Keep all your
hanging clothes together by placing 5-8 Making new friends
items together with the garage bag, using • Realise that most people are in the same
the yellow tie to secure the clothes hangers boat. Often people have moved from home
together. It keeps your clothes protected as well so are keen to start making their med
during the move and when you get to your family. Just smile through those nerves and it
new home you just hang everything back up will all work out.
- simple! • Attend events and volunteer for fun
• Pack delicate items in your clothing opportunities. This is a great way to get to
suitcase rather than their own box. This know most of your cohort and find like-minded
saves you having to buy heaps of bubble people. Med schools often will have a global
wrap and protects them during the move. health group, GP interest group and rural
• Label all your boxes! This is time consuming health club for you to get involved in and make
at first but a massive lifesaver when you new friends.
arrive tired and all you want is a knife to cut • Med camp! This is a great way to bond with
up a snack. your new cohort and meet some from the
• Utilise old blankets and towels as protectors higher years who you can ask all your burning
of TVs and mirrors during the road trip to questions to.
your new place. • If you’re feeling homesick utilise technology!
Have a skype coffee with your parents or
Tips for living with other people facetime with your dog. Do something to help
• Keep shared spaces clean. Do your dishes you get through the next day and know it gets
promptly and don’t leave shoes and clothes easier with time.
through around the living room.
• Open communication is key. Have a polite
conversation with your housemate about
issues rather than stewing about them and
disliking being at home.
• Have a cleaning roster. This makes you
accountable for a section of the house and
means it’s always nice coming home to a
clean bathroom or kitchen.
• Choose your housemates carefully. Living
with your best friend isn’t always for the best.
Choose people who are considerate and tidy
and if possible come recommended from a
previous household. 19Metro guide to Rural Life
Article by AMSA Rural Health (Elli Izrailov)
Congratulations to all the new metro students writing, drawing, exercising, socialising, exploring,
across Australia! Here at AMSA Rural Health we whatever – remember to find time to do it!
already have an article for all the rural students If you’re at a rural university hit up the local clubs
going to metro for the first time (see page 22), and societies to see what piques your interest. If
but there are still heaps of you from metro going you’re at a rural hospital on placement see what
into a rural med school or placement for the first local activities, sports, or groups you can join. And
time. That’s why we’ve collated a list of tips and one more time so the message is crystal clear;
tricks you should know before embarking on
what is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime. Your Mental Health is Important!
Making New Friends Easing the financial burden
The most important part about any med school Moving into the country! While living in rural
is having a good group of friends. That’s at Australia is inherently cheaper than living in the
least 10x more important when you’ve moved cities, paying rent and bills still isn’t easy. For
out into the country. Now the cities and towns that reason there are scholarships and bursaries
are pretty nice! Some of them are going to be that you should consider looking into to ease the
bigger, others smaller, and all pretty much either financial burden! Whether you’re moving out to
have a local Woolies or a Coles. However, you’re your new university or onto placement, have a
definitely not going to have the same hustle and look on your university website to see whether
“
bustle you get in the city, and that’s why making
friends is super important, because they will be
your life for the year, or two, or four.
In 2018 I lived in a small town called Churchill,
Victoria (pop. 4,568). The cohort of students with me
there are any relocation or placement scholarships
available. Centrelink can also assist by way of their
Youth Allowance and other available scholarships.
Most importantly, your student union should have
a financial advisory service to point you towards
other resources and assist with applications.
“
unanimously agreed that they loved being at Churchill
for the people. That’s not to say that Churchill is a bad
town, it’s quite beautiful, it’s just... See our Med Student Finances article on page 16
for more details.
...the people around me
definitely made getting through Transport and carpooling
rural medicine so much easier! So this is a big one, getting around! When in rural
Australia, everything is naturally pretty spread
out between towns but pretty close within towns.
Don’t just focus on Medicine Keep in mind that public transport in rural Australia
Living in a rural town can be very isolating, can take a while, or in some cases may be non-
especially when your entire life is back in the existent. So for efficiency, driving is the way to
city. That’s why it is 100% therapeutic to pick go. But today’s handy tip is to get onto carpooling!
up something outside of Med to keep you If you’re on placement, try and organise a roster
sane. Medicine is tough, and everyone has system to save up on fuel, as well as reduce your
the capacity to get through it, but your mental carbon footprint! Because why should five medical
health is so important, which is why it’s vital to students drive to one hospital/uni in five cars
remember to do the things you love! Whether when they can just do it in the one? It’s fantastic
that’s joining the local footy or rugby team, for the environment, and your wallet! Also for the
bringing a musical instrument from home, international students or the younger folks who
may not have a car or a license, they may be reliant
20 on you for getting to and fro!Explore the region! Maintain your support networks
Ah finally! While rural Australia lacks the upbeat Medicine is daunting on its own, and if you’re a
tempo of the cities there’s still heaps to do. If city slicker moving out into the country it’s equal
your town has a local info centre hit it up and try parts exciting and frightening. Throughout the year
to see what the local sites are. Your affiliated you’re going to have your highs and lows, which
university may also have a list of activities and is why it’s vital to have a strong support network
places that are nearby that are a must see. These you can rely on. Some of you may be lucky enough
sites can be bushwalks, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, to make the commute back home for a weekend
mountains, hills, trails, beaches, you name it. So where you can catch up with friends and family.
to make the most of your time out in the country Others however won’t have that luxury and sadly
check them out! will feel isolated. That’s why it’s so important to
look after one another when you and your cohort
Australia is a beautiful country, and people from are out together living the rural life. So regardless
around the world come to see what we take for whether you’re on placement or studying at uni, try
granted. Explore your country’s backyard and keep in touch with your fellow students who are in
make it your own - after all, you will be in the the same boat. It’s a great way to bond but really it
prime location for it! provides you with a sense of place and belonging.
Derwent River (TAS)
Jacoba van Wees Lighthouse Beach (NSW)
Andrew Baker
Morwell National Park (VIC)
Elli Izrailov Mt Oberon Summit (VIC)
Lauren Frisken
/yourAMSArural To stay up to date with AMSA Rural Health in 2019, make sure to follow
us on Facebook and Twitter for ways to get involved and to see all the
@yourAMSArural great opportunities that arise when you #gorural!
21Rural Students
Article by AMSA Rural Health
A very big congratulations to all new rural Your student union should have a financial advisory
students from far and wide! The prospect of service to point you towards other resources, and
starting med school may be equal parts daunting can assist with applications, however see our Med
and exciting. Here at AMSA Rural Health we Student Finances article on page 16 to see more
are thrilled to welcome you to the next cohort on this.
of future doctors and have put together some
tips and tricks that we would have liked to know Living in the city/commuting
before we began. So whether you’re from Port If you’re fresh from the country you may find
Macquarie or Port Hedland, Hamilton or Humpty there’s a lot more hustle and bustle, and everyone’s
Doo, hopefully this will help ease the transition in a hurry. Remember that you don’t have to keep
for you. up with everyone else’s pace - there is so much to
do you can’t possibly experience everything in your
Making new friends first year, but pushing yourself a little outside of
You may be off to a new city and university where your comfort zone to try new things is something
you know very few people or no one, let alone you won’t regret. You’ll have the opportunity to
anyone else in your course. However, it’s likely meet people from a huge variety of backgrounds
the majority of your cohort are in the same boat. and try an amazing variety of food. For ideas on
So, although you might feel a bit shy, saying “Hi!” what’s trending on the food scene check out your
to the person next to you in a lecture could be the city’s broadsheet. If home isn’t too far away and
beginning of a wonderful new friendship. Your you’re still commuting, it can feel isolating. There
new friends could be the colleagues you call on may not be time to fully embrace social events
or refer to in years to come. Another great way when it’s still 2 hours home and the trains stop
to meet people is through activities and social early! Try to stay in touch with any fellow students
events organised by your university MedSoc. in the same boat - you may be able to carpool, and
you’ll have a sympathetic ear as well as a potential
Don’t just focus on medicine study buddy.
Whilst the expected study time during medical
school can seem gruelling it’s super important The Rural Advantage
to maintain some work-life-balance. Making Your clinical years may seem a way off yet, but
time to do something you love (other than med) being of rural background can help, particularly
is incredibly beneficial. Whilst O-week is in full if you’re part of your rural clinical school. Your
swing, go check out what other non-med clubs experiences will give you a foot in both camps and
and societies are on offer. Getting involved in help you relate to more of your patients.
activities outside of medicine is another great
way to meet new people and an even better way Maintaining your rural ties
maintain your sanity. Many of you will be entering medical school with
the view to returning to the country once you’ve
Easing the financial burden qualified as a doctor. Another great way to meet
Moving away from home and paying rent and your like-minded rural colleagues is to get involved
bills can be costly. There are a number of with is your Rural Health Club. You can also get
scholarships available for all students and involved with AMSA Rural Health through social
some specifically for medical students from a media and attendance at the annual Rural Health
rural background. This includes the Centrelink Summit, to be held in Cairns in 2019.
Relocation scholarship, and the Bendigo and
Adelaide Bank Foundation scholarship.
22Mature Students
Coming into medicine, regardless of your way to accomplish this is to treat medicine like a
background, is difficult. full-time job. Depending on whether your degree
Let’s be realistic, you’ve probably researched is undergraduate or postgraduate can affect the
“mature age medical student” or something number of contact hours you have per week. For
along those lines to try and work out: example, on Thursday’s you may have lectures
that start at 11am and finish at 4pm; why not get
1. Am I too old for medicine; on campus by 9am and prep for your upcoming
2. Can I do this; and lectures or work on PBL learning objectives that’ll
3. Do I have to have a science based you’ll discuss next week? Not only would you
degree? start your day productively, it would also increase
the amount of time you are able to relax on the
The answers, put simply are no, yes and no in weekend.
that order. Often the hardest part of your medical
school experience is getting in, after that you Things to remember
just have to focus on passing your exams and • Not everyone has come into medicine
graduating. wanting to be a doctor since they were little.
Depending on who or what you read, there are Life aspirations can change. If you come from
a number of different definitions and terms a background of arts, law or agriculture, for
associated with mature aged students. The example, but have decided medicine is for you;
most common definition you’ll probably come that’s ok. If you have wanted to be a doctor for
across is an individual who is or older than 21 as long as you can remember, but maybe didn’t
years of age, but this changes depending on who get the marks; that’s ok too. Everyone has a
you ask. Likewise, a mature age student may different story but we all graduate as doctors
also be referred to as a non-traditional entrant, in the end regardless of the progression to get
non-school leaver or a graduate entry student. there.
Australia currently has 21 medical schools, of • Medicine is all about balance. Find what works
which 11 are graduate entry and of the rest, for you and don’t be afraid to change it up if
several are undergraduate universities who your circumstances change. The advantage
accept non-school leavers. Food for thought: of previous study allows you to have a greater
this equates to more than half of Australia’s understanding of what works for you, so that
medical schools having mature students. you don’t have to spend time trying to figure it
Two studies in Ireland found that graduate out.
students with a “scientific background at time • There may be times where you feel like a fraud
of entry … confers no significant advantage in or imposter due to the assumption that age
final year clinical assessments”[1] and that any correlates to knowledge and experience. It’s ok
advantage they may have had when starting the not to know. Just like there are really no dumb
degree “diminishes as the course progresses.”[2] questions, not knowing is an opportunity to
That’s not to say the first year isn’t difficult, there find out what you don’t know so you can learn.
is a steep learning curve. Most mature students Isn’t that why you go to medical school in the
come into medicine with varying life experiences, first place?
but are also faced with the adjustment back into • Medicine and self-directed learning go hand in
full-time study, having a family or a mortgage. hand, so embrace a schedule that works for
you and your circumstances.
So how do people manage? References:
Balance.
1. Byrne, A., Arnett, R., Farrell, T. and Sreenan, S. (2014). Comparison of
performance in a four year graduate entry medical programme and a
traditional five/six year programme. BMC Medical Education, 14(1).
2. Sulong, S., McGrath, D., Finucane, P., Horgan, M., O’Flynn, S. and
Find a way that allows you to enjoy and embrace O’Tuathaigh, C. (2014). Studying medicine – a cross-sectional questionnaire-
your family while managing your studies. One based analysis of the motivational factors which influence graduate and
undergraduate entrants in Ireland.
JRSM Open, 5(4), p.204253331351015 23Med Student Parents
With the increasing average age of medical • Studying medicine will mean making difficult
students in Australia, and the advent of choices regarding mothering, particularly
postgraduate medical training programs, many breastfeeding. However, most health services
medical students are entering medical school and universities have policies in place that
with varied commitments including work encourage and protect time for breastfeeding
and children. You may already have several mothers.
children, be expecting your first child, or thinking • Pregnancy exposure to anatomy wet labs,
of starting a family. Either way, the thought parental leave, breastfeeding and expressing,
of balance your role as a parent and being a university childcare and leave for sick children,
medical student can be a daunting proposition are all pertinent issues for med student parents.
and challenging at times. However, with good The most pressing advice that our existing
support it is achievable; plenty of us are already cohort can offer is to speak up, ask for advice,
doing it. and understand reasonable entitlements for
students who are studying medicine.
Here are some initial pointers to help you on • Your family will always be the most important,
your journey: and being a parent will add more to your journey
• Studying medicine will mean time away from of becoming a doctor than any book or lecture
your family and can be unpredictable. One could ever possibly Achieve. Overall, raising
major concern for medical student parents family while studying medicine can at times
is that of attendance at lectures, tutorials be overwhelming both physically and mentally.
and other mandatory activities, particularly However, it is a privilege to be a parent and to
those that fall out of normal work or school be a medical student, so how lucky are we?...
hours. Many universities have flexible access we get to be both!
to lectures with online recordings or video-
conferencing facilities, but it can be variable, Join the Med Student Parents Facebook Group
and medicine is traditionally taught by face - a supportive online network to help you through
to face. The balancing act of meeting your medicine!
timetable with that of your child’s daycare
or school can be challenging, but many Feel free to contact our group facilitators:
students make it work. Meleseini Tai-Roche (MSP NSW) at
‣‣ One successful approach is to treat meleseini.tai-roche1@my.nd.edu.au
medical study like a fulltime job, by Peter Morris (MSP QLD) at
nominating a start and finish time five peter.morris2@my.jcu.edu.au
days per week, ie. 8am – 5pm Mon-
Fri, and arrange your life and children
around this.
• The chance is there will be other parents in
your cohort, if not there will be other students
that can understand your commitments and
be supportive. It is important to understand
early that you need to be realistic with what
your study schedule will be like, compared
to your pre-child life, and compared to your
peers. This is ok. You will work differently,
in a way which will suit you and your family.
24International Students
G’day mate, and welcome to ‘Straya! By now you’ve probably realised that not all of us ride kangaroos
to uni (you need a permit) and the odds of being eaten by our native wildlife aren’t really that high, but
here’s just a few tips to help you get accustomed to Aussie life. Australia’s culture is incredibly diverse,
so you’re sure to find people with similar interests and fun things to do. We’re so stoked to have you
here, and can’t wait to show you what Australia has to offer. If you’re looking for more information,
studyinaustralia.gov.au and studiesinaustralia.com are pretty good places to start, and always feel
free to ask your local peers!
Tip #1: Making friends Tip #3: Explore your new home and it’s
A large proportion of your cohort will be from all history
across Australia (and the world). Most haven’t Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are
met anyone else in the cohort before, and they’re the First Australians, and are recognised as the
as keen as you are to make a friend! It may look traditional owners of the land. Aboriginal and Torres
like everyone else seems more confident than Strait Islander people have inhibited Australia for
you, but behind the façade everyone is nervous thousands of years, and while now only comprising
about meeting new people. of 3% of Australia’s population, continue to retain a
deep and profound connection to country.
So don’t be afraid, and any time you see
someone you haven’t met just say hi, introduce Australia is a fascinating country, with tourist
yourself, and find out things about them like attractions just about everywhere. TripAdvisor is
where they’re from. And who knows – you may a great way to get started, with tripadvisor.com.
have just met your next best friend! Friends are au/restaurants providing reviews on local places
fantastic for having fun with, providing support to eat, and tripadvisor.com.au/attractions helping
when you need it, and group studying. you explore some things to do. theurbanlist.com
is also a good place to discover new places and
Tip #2: Get involved! activities in your respective cities.
O-Week can be a little daunting, especially
at some of the larger universities, but it’s the Tip #4: Learn about Aussie Lingo and
perfect opportunity to explore some of the Foods
best things your uni has to offer. Don’t be Much of this you will learn over time, but if you
afraid to venture beyond the academics – join want a head start classic Australian foods to try
societies and social sports teams, go to events include lamingtons, Anzac biscuits, pavlova, Tim
(especially those run by the Australian Medical Tams, meat pies, and vegemite on damper if you’re
Students’ Association (AMSA) and your medical game. Learning some of the Aussie slang would
society - they’re designed just for you!), and also be helpful:
you’ll meet some amazing people with similar
Australian English English
interests to you.
Arvo Afternoon
It’s important to venture beyond your comfort Bottle-O Bottle shop
zone, and you’ll find new and exciting things you
never thought you’d like. Getting involved is also Mozzie Mosquito
the easiest way to make lifelong friends you No worries No problems
can’t believe you’d ever lived without. Sunnies Sunglasses
Thongs Flip-flops or jandals
Yeah nah No
Nah yeah Yes 25
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