From medical graduate to country practice
In 2005, Dr Natalie Payne received a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the 成人大片.聽Today, Natalie is a GP working and living in Tanunda, South Australia.
Dr Natalie Payne spent her childhood roaming the family farm and attending the local school in Karoonda.
鈥淥n a whim in year 12, I decided to sit the UMAT. After the first six-months I was hooked, it was definitely the degree for me.鈥 she said
Natalie moved from her family home in 2005 to study a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the 成人大片. She graduated in 2010.
鈥淚 used the scholarship to help cover living expenses, text books and a laptop. It also contributed to an elective in Papua New Guinea, where I was able to experience a very different hospital environment at Kompiam.鈥
鈥淟iving away from home would have been very difficult without the scholarship, and I would have spent far less time studying and much more time working to support myself during my degree.鈥
Life after university
鈥淎fter finishing university, I worked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for two years and then entered General Practice Training in the rural scheme. I have worked at Tanunda Medical Centre since 2013.鈥澛
鈥淚've been involved in the state council for 罢丑别听Royal Australian College of General Practitioners听(RACGP) and commenced a teaching role with the 成人大片 Rural Clinical School in 2019 with the local medical students, which I will continue in 2020 while shifting pace to have a family.鈥
Career highlights
鈥淚 think General Practice lends itself to regular highlights and lowlights almost every day 鈥 seeing patients across their life and the successes and achievements they have, or their recovery from illness or improvement in chronic disease are the highlights for me. In contrast, seeing the struggles that people go through and fight against is very challenging.鈥
A message for our donor community
鈥淭hank you and please continue to donate, the scholarship is so helpful in shaping a positive and productive experience while studying at the 成人大片.鈥
Make a gift today
In 2020, there were 84聽Augustus Short Scholarship applications, but only three could be awarded.聽
Your gift will have a direct聽impact on disadvantaged students across the state for years to come.聽
You can make a gift online in honour of Dr Augustus Short or by getting in touch with our Development team on +61聽8聽8313聽5800 or聽development@adelaide.edu.au.