Observership marks the first true clinical experience for most medical students at the University of Queensland. Whilst optional in nature, I was encouraged by other medical students and mentors to take this opportunity and gain some real-world medical experience. In particular, the regional observership program run through TROPHIQ, the rural health club at the University of Queensland, appealed to me.
After a few weeks, I was excited to receive an email of acceptance and an unfamiliar name; Blackbutt Medical Centre. A quick Google search showed that Blackbutt is a rural town in the South Burnett Region of Queensland with a population of roughly 800 people. The town is named after the Eucalyptus pilularis, a species of medium-sized to tall trees that were nicknamed Blackbutt in the region due to the rough bark at the tree base usually charred black from previous bush fires.
What wasn’t mentioned in this search was the lively Thursday evening trivia at the local pub which went till the clock struck midnight and the local pie store with amazing coffee that sold out of their best flavours a little too quickly come lunchtime. Even the drive to Blackbutt was adventurous, slamming on my brakes after driving around a corner to discover a herd of cattle on the road. However, the most memorable part of the observership was the people. The stories of resilience and support this small town shared over the years made me have nothing but respect for its people.
Having grown up in the bustling city of Seoul, South Korea, followed by Brisbane, I am cognisant this sounds like the culture-shocked rambling of a naïve and idealistic city boy who is unaccustomed to the harsh realities of rural life. I started the placement with an almost unbridled optimism for both regional life and medical practice under such settings. Perhaps this optimism was ill-conceived, perhaps not. My optimism was answered in full both in and outside of the medical practice. In the short two weeks, we were warmly greeted by name by locals and got the privilege to hear their life stories full of joy and excitement for the upcoming Christmas. There was a true sense of community and mutualism that is almost a pipe dream in the metropolitan of Brisbane.
Focusing on the medical experience, we had the opportunity to perform venepunctures, provide COVID vaccine injections, scribe, take histories and assist with general health checks and read ECGs. Talking to both the GPs and other health professionals such as the nurse practitioner at the centre provided insights both into medical procedures and practices as well as life in Blackbutt.
I would recommend a rural observership experience to everyone and would like to thank AMSA and RACGP for their generous rural bursary. Though I did briefly work in a regional town before, I truly believe every place has its own unique culture and people which makes it special. At the Blackbutt Centre, whilst we may not have seen as many procedures or surgeries as some major hospitals, it provided more time just to talk with the local people and understand various aspects of rural health. It allows us to connect and gain a unique snippet into life in regional Queensland.