LOCAL Ellen Taylor-Hawkins is one of 25 country students who will get a chance to study medicine at the University of Western Australia via the Rural Pathway program.
Ellen, who lives in Margaret River but went to school in Busselton, said she was delighted to be accepted into the program.
“I was pretty stoked, but a bit surprised because I was right on the borderline with my ATAR score,” she said.
“The cut-off was 96 and I got exactly that.”
The Rural Pathway program was set up to identify students in rural areas who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine and provide them with a support network to help them achieve this goal.
It works in conjunction with the Rural Clinical School of WA which has the specific goal of attracting more doctors to regional, rural and remote areas.
Students in the course will complete a three-year bachelor degree before undertaking the new four-year Doctor of Medicine course, which is set to start in 2015.
Ellen said she thought the program was a great initiative.
“Usually the cut-off (to get into medicine) is 98, so this is a good way to give country students a chance and get doctors back into rural areas,” she said.
She said the reason she wanted to become a doctor was to work with people, although she is not quite sure what she wants to specialise in.
“It’s also a great chance to travel. I want to go to third-world countries and help out.
“I like the idea of working with kids or in a remote Aboriginal community.”
For now Ellen is taking a gap year and working as a waitress at Leeuwin Estate.
“I want to earn enough to qualify for youth allowance and support myself at university.”
So does she have any advice for the next batch of rural students looking to study medicine?
“Stick with it and believe you actually can do it.
“There are so many opportunities and chances to help you get there, like the Rural Pathway program.”
