Candidate: Katie Baronie Shaw
Rural Health Club: SPINRPHEX
Discipline: Medicine
Please provide summary of why you are interested in the position, your ability to fulfill the position and your previous experience related to the position. (Word limit: 300 words)
Vice Chair of NRHSN appeals to me as I have been involved with, supported by and engaged with NRHSN activities over the last three years. Without which I could not have set up the Macquarie University Rural Health Club in 2018 or become the current SPINRPHEX president. I am passionate about this role as I believe Western Australia needs more student representation at a national level and I believe I can contribute meaningfully to the role.
I believe I am well prepared to fill this position with extensive leadership experience, both at a university club level but also from being the student representative on the Rural Doctors Association of Western Australia Committee. Through these experiences I have learnt how to engage with stakeholders, universities, sponsors and fellow peers to support and promote rural health.
I have demonstrated my continued interest and dedication to improving health outcomes in rural and remote areas and believe as both a John Flynn scholar and bonded student I can greatly contribute to the NRHSN committee and offer perspective and experience that will help and support members. The qualities that I can bring to the role include charisma, dedication, leadership and strong team oriented abilities.
From the time I have spent being involved with NRHSN I feel well equiped to engage with RDN and fellow committee members. Over the past few months my zoom skills are definitely well polished and I hope that being from WA will not be a hindrance but in fact a useful perspective to share with the committee.
Please provide a response to the Key Selection Criteria. (Word limit: 1000 words)
In regards to the selection criterion:
I will be on rural clinical school in Albany (5 hours south of Perth) for the duration of the year, however this will not impact access to email, phone or internet as it is a large regional centre. I will be able to attend events and meetings when required (COVID permitting) throughout the term and am excited to do so. As mentioned previously I have had extensive experience on an RHC level as well as being heavily involved in NRHSN and RDN during the initial phases of MURHC establishment.
I have attended three NRHSN councils over the years and have gained invaluable leadership experience and understanding of how the committee works. I have demonstrated my passion in rural health through various work experiences in northern Western Australia as well as central Australia in Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands where I got to experience first hand the benefit of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, this experience is what drove me to pursue a career in medicine as I feel a responsibility to service communities that will benefit the most from passionate and committed health care providers, which I aspire to be in the future.
I have learnt a lot from my leadership roles in the past, particularly as the current SPINRPHEX president. This year was not what I expected when entering the role and I have learnt a lot from the challenges that the current pandemic has presented us with. I have learnt to be flexible and creative with delivering events online, redistributing funding, cancelling events that we could not ensure social distancing and now bringing in person events back, all while supporting my committee through uncertainty and challenges. This learning is invaluable and I believe will add great value to NRHSN Vice Chair.
Through my various roles I have met with many stakeholders such as Health Workforce Queensland, RDN, Department of Health, Rural Health West and many more. These experiences make me comfortable with presenting, engaging with and continuing relationships with stakeholders and those in important roles both locally and nationally. Through attending council I have witnessed the roles of Executive committee in person and the support they provide for members, engagement with stakeholders and events managed as well as position papers and education. I hope to contribute meaningfully to this myself.
Through work experience and employment as a phlebotomist I am acutely aware of the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in rural and remote health. I have also practiced this in my role as President of SPINRPHEX where we work as a team from various backgrounds and universities to promote rural health as a united front, through this our events are collaborative and engaging for all members regardless of discipline.
Over the years I have listened to and read many position papers presented by the network, most notably for me was the support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart Position Paper. This meant a lot to me and is something I would love to be involved with and contribute to in the future as I believe we have a great responsibility as the national body. Student voices are not often heard and that is why I believe NRHSN is so important as it is a means to make those voices heard. I do not believe my personal views would impact or affect those views being presented by the network, through my professional behaviours and practice I understand the importance of a united front and will demonstrate that professionalism in all aspects of the role.
As president it has been imperative to demonstrate adherence to timelines, without which the club would not function. Not only do I keep myself accountable but I am also able to regularly communicate with my committee and set achievable goals and timeframes. This also contributes to my ability to work cohesively in a team, an ability I have demonstrated not only through committees but also in my constant involvement in sporting teams and volunteer activities and workplace environments.
Please provide your Curriculum Vitae. This can include a summary of specific previous experiences you have had related to rural health and leadership (events, courses, positions held, relevant previous or current employment). (Word limit: 500 words)
Tertiary Education:
- Graduate of University of Western Australia 2013-2015
- Bachelor of Science (Double major in Anatomy / Human Biology and Marine Science)
- Macquarie University MD 2018
- University of Notre Dame Fremantle MD 2019-present
Qualifications:
- St John Ambulance First Aid Certificate
- Royal Life Saving Bronze Medallion
- Working With Children Check
- Recreational Skippers Ticket
- PADI Open Water SCUBA Diver
- Phlebotomy Cert III
- Mental Health First Aid
Relevant Positions Held
- Volunteer coordinator, Macquarie University Medicine Society
- 2018 Founder and Chair of Macquarie University Rural Health Club
- 2018 Events Coordinator SPINRPHEX
- 2019 SPINRPHEX president
- 2020 Student Representative for Rural Doctors Association of Western Australia
- 2020 Current John Flynn Placement Program Scholar