Medical student Giselle explores rural health career with help from bush bursary and CWA scholarship

RDN and the Country Women’s Association are partnering to provide the Bush Bursaries Scholarship to students studying health and interested in a placement in a rural town. 

Giselle Capacchione (pictured) was a second-year medical student at the University of Notre Dame when she was awarded a scholarship, which involved a placement last year in the rural NSW town of Yass.   

Giselle was invited into a range of clinical experiences and says she was touched by the willingness of the locals to let her engage in their healthcare journey.  

“Whether it was sitting in on consultations, asking questions or even assisting with treatment, the patients were happy for me to be included and all of the learning opportunities I had were hands-on,” she said.   

Giselle chose to study medicine because she wanted to work with people in a meaningful way. She says to her, there is no greater privilege than to be entrusted with a person’s health concerns.  

“To have the skills to help and the opportunity to work with a patient to improve their wellbeing is a great privilege.  

“My rural experience has confirmed my desire to work rurally in the future and to do all I can to support rural patients.  

“I strongly recommend to all students interested in rural health to apply for the Bush Bursaries and CWA Scholarship.” 

Students interested in the 2021 Bush Bursaries and CWA Scholarship can apply here before 14 June.  

Thanks to Helen Maskell-Knight and the Yass Valley Council, the CWA, and local community and healthcare professionals for their support of this program.