Abhash, medical student at the University of Tasmania
“My name is Abhash, I’m 19 years old. I was born in New Zealand and later moved to Bundaberg, Queensland. I am currently a third-year medical student at the University of Tasmania in Burnie.”
When going to Theodore, we took the opportunity to talk to NextGen Medics program participant Abhash, and
Theodore native Keith, who both gain from this initiative.
What brought you here, to Theodore?
Abhash: For university, I was having a look at different rural programs. I’ve always been following the
activities of Heart of Australia and there was an opportunity to participate in the NextGen medics program, so I
applied. I was very nervous, and when I got the phone call saying that I was in, I was so grateful to be part of
it.
Keith: 70 years ago my parents bought a property here, a dairy farm. We were six children. Just minimal medical
facilities were available: Theodore only built a hospital in the early sixties. In 1965 I started with beef
cattle farming, that was the happiest day of my life.
What does access to rural healthcare mean to you personally?
Abhash: As a kid, I’d always thought about improving people’s lives. So, into the field of medicine is where I
chose to go. But I didn’t want to be just another doctor – I’d like to contribute to something even bigger
to medicine. It’s been great talking to the patients here because they tell us about this place and they’ve been
very welcoming to us as well, which really shows how much rural communities appreciate doctors.
Keith: I’ve had bypass surgery. In those days, when I had to go to Brisbane for treatment, I lost three days
for each trip. So, it’s a lot of time wasted. And that’s the wonderful thing about having the Heart of Australia
trucks come to Theodore: My appointment yesterday took four hours, but if I had had the same diagnostics and
checks and scans that I would have had in Brisbane, it would have taken days.