
Hi, I'm Susan Lim from Singapore and I'm studying third year Medicine at UNSW. Right from first year when I left home to come to Australia, I was already inclined towards staying and working here after graduation. I love Singapore- it'll always be home truly; but I'm just the type of person who can't imagine staying in one place for all my life and Sydney has just been perfect for the sea lovin' soul in me.
Doing coursework this year and getting more exposure to the hospital system here has made me surer of my decision to stay. I've been trained in Australian health epidemiology and protocols and now feel that I have grown familiar with Medicine here. It saddens me when fellow graduating internationals tell me to brace myself for the possibility of not getting a job here. They're speaking from their own despair of not knowing if or where they're going to get placed for internship when all their local and permanent resident peers have received theirs with a sure peace of mind. It saddens me when I have to prepare myself for the possibility of leaving the dear friends and second families that I've made here.
It doesn't make sense that people like us- those with a genuine desire to contribute to Australian healthcare- are not being accommodated for by the system. International students have little in the way of financial support, pay full fees and are denied of public transport concessions (at least here in NSW). Surely something can be done to stop this unfairness from ensuing? If this problem isn't going to be addressed anytime soon, it makes sense to think that future internationals aren't even going to consider Australia as a tertiary study option for Medicine. Think about the wealth of international perspectives, ideas and innovation that the healthcare system will be missing out on. Something has to be done. Now.
I'm grateful towards Australia for providing me the opportunity to pursue my passion in Medicine, and like many others I hope to be given the next opportunity to return this favour by serving the local community, and eventually calling this place my next home. #helpushelpyou, please.
Susan is a 3rd year medical student from the University of New South Wales
#HelpMeHelpYou is a collection of stories from current NSW students who are genuinely interested in working in NSW after graduation & are worried that they may not be able to make good use of their hard-earned medical degree. Read all students' stories here.
Want to share your story? Email [email protected]
Doing coursework this year and getting more exposure to the hospital system here has made me surer of my decision to stay. I've been trained in Australian health epidemiology and protocols and now feel that I have grown familiar with Medicine here. It saddens me when fellow graduating internationals tell me to brace myself for the possibility of not getting a job here. They're speaking from their own despair of not knowing if or where they're going to get placed for internship when all their local and permanent resident peers have received theirs with a sure peace of mind. It saddens me when I have to prepare myself for the possibility of leaving the dear friends and second families that I've made here.
It doesn't make sense that people like us- those with a genuine desire to contribute to Australian healthcare- are not being accommodated for by the system. International students have little in the way of financial support, pay full fees and are denied of public transport concessions (at least here in NSW). Surely something can be done to stop this unfairness from ensuing? If this problem isn't going to be addressed anytime soon, it makes sense to think that future internationals aren't even going to consider Australia as a tertiary study option for Medicine. Think about the wealth of international perspectives, ideas and innovation that the healthcare system will be missing out on. Something has to be done. Now.
I'm grateful towards Australia for providing me the opportunity to pursue my passion in Medicine, and like many others I hope to be given the next opportunity to return this favour by serving the local community, and eventually calling this place my next home. #helpushelpyou, please.
Susan is a 3rd year medical student from the University of New South Wales
#HelpMeHelpYou is a collection of stories from current NSW students who are genuinely interested in working in NSW after graduation & are worried that they may not be able to make good use of their hard-earned medical degree. Read all students' stories here.
Want to share your story? Email [email protected]