Cadet’s pursuit of medicine inspired by drive to break the poverty cycle  

RDN, on behalf of NSW Health, offers Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students interested in undertaking a medical career in rural NSW. Taylor Glover is a current Indigenous Cadet, and shares with us her inspiring story. 

Taylor Glover is a Dharawal Woman who grew up in the beautiful Illawarra region and, after a self-described ‘chaotic’ childhood, was fostered at age 13 into a beautiful family whose undivided love and stability empowered her to “strive for higher things”.

It was this support, matched by a fierce determination to “break the cycle of poverty” that saw Taylor become the first person in her family to go to University.

Graduating from Dapto High School with the marks to gain entry into a Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Health and Sciences at the University of Wollongong, Taylor worked full-time for a GP Clinic to gain extra skills and earn some money. Soon after Taylor started, (and quickly dropped out of) a Masters of Public Health when she came to the realisation that it was Medicine she wanted to pursue!

“My passion for Medicine stems from my keen interest in people, a fascination with the sciences and the drive to break the cycle of poverty,” Taylor said.

Taylor moved to Canberra to continue her journey of becoming a doctor and is now in her final year of Medicine at the Australian National University (ANU) after a “... winding, incredible four years full of highs and lows.”

“I’ve made incredible friends, been (happily) divorced, and completed placements in the NT, Malta, Goulburn and Canberra.”

With no contacts or previous knowledge about medical programs and support like the Cadetship offered by RDN, it was a post on RDN’s social media that first alerted Taylor to the prospect of applying for, and benefitting from, a Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students.

“The Cadetship has provided me with an incredible network of friends all around NSW,” Taylor said.

“We always say that we know we’ve found our tribe because we are all so like-minded and supportive of one another.

“Furthermore, the Cadetship has allowed me the financial freedom to complete placements in smaller towns, which comes with travel, accommodation and other miscellaneous costs.”

There are two types of cadetships available through RDN: the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students and the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship.

Amongst many other benefits, Cadets receive up to $15,000 per year in the final two years of their medical degree and agree to undertake two of the first three years of their hospital training in an eligible rural NSW hospital in return.

Taylor said that as an Aboriginal student, it was very important to incorporate her culture into her study.

“RDN has facilitated that so well in providing opportunities to debrief with, and meet other amazing, First Nations Cadets and Colleagues. On one occasion, I was able to meet Aunty June Oscar after she delivered a piece on First Nations Women at the ACT Press Club. I’ve been so incredibly lucky with the opportunities I’ve been given with RDN.”

With internship approaching, Taylor says her aim is to be “…a safe, competent doctor.”

“My non-RDN colleagues have been frantic in choosing, and applying for, various hospitals. However I’ve been so lucky in knowing that I’m basically guaranteed my internship at one of five excellent hospitals,” Taylor said.

“Beyond that, my interests lie with Rural Generalism, Psychiatry and General Practice. I adore working in small towns and hope to settle down, create a home, and contribute to a community for an extended period of time after all my training.”

Asked if she had any previous misconceptions about working rurally, Taylor admitted she did, but was quickly proven wrong.

“A common misconception that I had was that you couldn’t be anything but a GP or RG in a rural town. This couldn’t be further from the truth; these towns have such a need for other specialists,” Taylor said.

“I also thought that there were lower quality doctors in the country, or that the city didn’t want them – boy was I wrong! These doctors just have it all… they need to be personable, incredibly talented with their skills, and have a wealth of knowledge to deal with any kind of emergency that may crop up. In my opinion, you would be more employable training and working in a country setting, over a city setting.

“The other advantages are professional, you’re not competing with a rung of other juniors for someone’s time or effort, you’ll see interesting presentations and actually be involved. As a third year, I sutured a seven year-old boy's leg laceration up, while the RG was dealing with two septic patients in Tennant Creek.”

Taylor has completed a range of placements around Australia and Internationally, including at the Sydney Adventist Hospital and in Malta. After these experiences, she said she noticed that her placements in smaller towns like Tennant Creek and Goulburn have incredible advantages.

“Some are logistical; a shorter drive to the clinic means you don’t have to wake up as early, you don’t have to pay for parking, people have more time for you, the cafés will know your coffee order (also there is always good coffee, you just have to find it!).

With applications now open for the next round of Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students, Taylor is encouraging other medical students to apply.

“I really didn’t know what I was in for, but my gut feeling was right; RDN filled all the places that my university didn’t.

“The personal gains are amazing, rural and regional towns have so much to offer in terms of art, entertainment, food and wine, run clubs. The list goes on, but you build such genuine connections with people and it can be one of the most fulfilling feelings.

“I feel prepared, connected, and confident about going into my internship year.

“A long-winded way of saying, definitely apply!”

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Applications are NOW OPEN for RDN’s Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships and the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students.

RDN, on behalf of NSW Health, is offering 48 cadetships to medical students interested in undertaking a medical career in rural NSW.

Successful applicants receive:

• Up to $15,000 per year in the final two years of their medical degree and agree to undertake two of the first three years of their hospital training in an eligible rural NSW hospital in return
• A relocation grant when moving to a rural location
• Ongoing mentoring and support through RDN
• Subsidised attendance at RDN conferences and the annual RDN cadet weekend trips.
   

Applications close 9am August 5 2024.  For details on eligibility and to apply, visit the RDN website here.