Just what the doctor ordered

Now, Mr Carey is in his second year of a bachelor of medicine degree at the University of NSW (UNSW) and is one of two recipients of the 2014 The Land Medical Scholarship.

“When I first applied for medicine, it wasn’t necessarily something I had my heart set on as the be-all-and-end-all,” he said.

“But when I started studying, it really did become something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

The $7500 scholarship aims to encourage young people studying medicine to practise in the bush upon the completion of their degree.

Through the scholarship, Mr Carey will be able to seek advice and assistance from the Rural Doctors Association of NSW about his course.

The association has also teamed up Mr Carey with a mentor, Dr Teena Downton, Tamworth, who will be able to highlight the opportunities of working in rural areas to Mr Carey.

Although Mr Carey still has four more years of studying, he’s certain his love for rural communities will bring him back to the country for work.

“I really would like to go back to a rural area, as to where it would be I’m not quite sure yet,” he said.

“Tamworth would be a really great place.”

Mr Carey grew up with his parents Robert and Marion on their family farm that runs prime lambs, cattle and cropping.

As well as having his rural background in mind, Mr Carey said he would prefer to work in the country to bridge the distance between rural residents and medical help.

“It’s not as though people in rural areas aren’t as sick as people in the city,” he said.

“I think the fact rural people have to travel to see a doctor for anything is quite disappointing.”

Although Mr Carey said there was a drastic need for more medical support in rural communities, he found it just as important for residents of small towns to have a doctor they could visit who made them feel comfortable.

Mr Carey said a higher amount of full-time doctors in smaller towns would encourage people to seek medical attention faster and more confidently.

“I think it is very important to have medical services close to home,” he said.

“It makes people feel more comfortable and sets up a greater rapport with the community, which is always stronger in rural towns.”

Through his degree, Mr Carey has been taking part in two-week sessions at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, where he is able to interact with patients.

One thing Mr Carey said he really enjoyed about the practical side of his degree was having the chance to speak to patients about the concerns they have regarding their health.

“One of the biggest things I’ve taken out of being at UNSW as a doctor is you’re not treating a disease, you’re treating a person,” he said.

“If you lack good communication skills, it’s not going to be a good experience, particularly for your patient.”

With only 18 months of his degree completed, Mr Carey hasn’t decided where to specialise in medicine.

Having always liked the sciences, his opportunities to specialise are endless, although he hopes the field he chooses will allow him to interact with his patients.

“Where ever I end up, I hope I could have a good relationship with my patients, especially if I was in a small town,” he said.

“I would really want to be a part of the community I was living in.”

Next year, Mr Carey will undergo clinical placement and depending on whether his preferences are chosen, he could end up completing his placement in a rural area.

He said he would love the opportunity to experience working in a rural area and hopes to use the placement to further his communication skills.

“Communicating and explaining things to patients in ways they understand, to me, is the top priority of medicine.”