2021 NRHSN Executive Committee

The 2021 NRHSN Executive Committee:

  • Chair – Jocelyn Ledger
  • Vice Chair Internal– Katie Baronie Shaw
  • Vice Chair External – Jean-Baptiste Philibert
  • Secretary – William Wood
  • Allied Health Officer – Hayley Johns
  • Community and Advocacy Officer – Nicola Murphy
  • Indigenous Health Officer – Skylar Alucia
  • Medical Officer – Maddy Brown
  • Nursing and Midwifery Officer – Angela Pham
  • Sponsorship and Publications Officer – Baneen Alrubayi
  • Social Media Officer – Debra Lee

The Executive can be contacted via: executivecommittee@nrhsn.org.au

Chair – Jocelyn Ledger

  • BREAATHHE Rural Health Club
  • Medical student
  • University of Newcastle
Jocelyn grew up in Lithgow, NSW and spent time living in Albury, NSW while completing her Bachelor of Business. Jocelyn is a medical student at the University of Newcastle and completing her clinical years at Maitland and John Hunter Hospitals. She has previously been the NRHSN Community and Advocacy Officer, President and General Councillor for Medicine in her rural health club, BREAATHHE, and is a current NSW Rural Doctors Network Medical Cadet. Jocelyn is passionate about general practice, rural health, and advocating for students wanting to experience and learn in rural settings. She is looking forward to working with students, rural health clubs, and stakeholders in 2021.
You can reach Jocelyn at chair@nrhsn.org.au

Vice Chair – Katie Baronie Shaw

  • SPINRPHEX Rural Health Club
  • Medicine student
  • University of Notre Dame, Fremantle

Katie is a WA local with a passion for rural and remote medicine that has developed over many years of work experience and volunteering around Australia. These experiences drove her towards medicine at Notre Dame Fremantle and a continued involvement in rural health clubs. Katie was the founder of Macquarie University Rural Health Club, Vice Chair of Fair Game NSW and President of SPINRPHEX. 2021 will be spent in Albany, a regional town on the coast of south west WA, the perfect location to be representing NRHSN.

You can reach Katie at vcinternal@nrhsn.org.au

Vice Chair External – Jean-Baptiste Philibert

  • RHUWS Rural Health Club
  • Medical student
  • Western Sydney University

Jean-Baptiste (JB) was born and raised in regional France and moved to an island off the coast of Madagascar at age 11. At the age of 16, he finished high school, and having always dreamt of Australia he moved as a temporary entrant to Perth, WA to learn English for a few months. JB fell in love with Australia and never left. Once JB finally became an Australia citizen after working several years in events, hospitality and the university sector, he sat the UMAT for the first time. He always knew that he wanted to work and live rurally and had regretted not ever having the opportunity to try for medical school. Now in his 2nd year, JB is the recipient of the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarship, a PASS facilitator, Secretary of RHUWS and a John Flynn Placement Program Scholar in the NT. He completed his first life changing placement in Tennant Creek in November 2019 and can’t wait to go back.

You can reach Jean-Baptiste at vcexternal@nrhsn.org.au 

Secretary – William Wood

  • MIRAGE Rural Health Club
  • Medical student
  • University of Sydney

William is a medical student based at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. Originally from Griffith, Will believes in the need for equity among rural and metropolitan areas especially in health and education. Will graduated as a Civil Engineer from UTS and was working across multiple LGAs in Sydney before moving home and briefly working in Griffith and later in Hillston, NSW. Dedicated to pursuing medicine, Will eventually transferred his science degree from Wagga Wagga to Charles Sturt University in Orange where he remained for two years. During his time in Orange he worked as a Sleep Technician and was a Summer Scholar with the University of Sydney. After graduating with a Bachelor of Clinical Science, he moved to Sydney to work as a Research Assistant for the Sleep Research Group based at the Charles Perkins Centre at Sydney University where he still works on a casual basis. Will has served on a variety of organisations and brings a wealth of experience to the position. He is currently a Rotarian with the Rotary Social Impact Network and is working towards his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is also fluent in Spanish and is working towards his B1 level German.

You can reach William at secretary@nrhsn.org.au

Allied Health Officer – Hayley Johns

  • BREAATHHE Rural Health Club
  • Podiatry student
  • University of Newcastle

Hayley is currently studying Podiatry at The University of Newcastle, as she has a passion for helping others and being actively involved in her community. Helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person! Hayley’s involvement in the NRHSN and BREAATHHE stemmed from her desire to increase awareness among fellow health students about the importance of lower limb health. In addition to understanding and appreciating other allied health and medical practices, especially in terms of multidisciplinary patient care. Her dream job is to provide podiatry services to communities in rural and regional areas.

You can reach Hayley at allied@nrhsn.org.au

Community and Advocacy Officer – Nicola Murphy

  • ROUNDS Rural Health Club
  • Medicine student
  • University of Notre Dame, Sydney

Nicola grew up on the Darling Downs in Queensland and is currently a long way from home, studying Medicine at the University of Notre Dame in Sydney. Nicola has been the Secretary of ROUNDS Rural Health Club in 2020, along with leading the Medical Association of UNDS Alumni Committee. Prior to this, Nicola completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science (Hons) at UQ in Brisbane. In 2021, as a third year medical student, Nicola looks forward to opportunity to engage in advocacy for Rural Health and rural careers for health students on a national level.

You can reach Nicola at advocacy@nrhsn.org.au

Indigenous Health Officer – Skylar Alucia

  • ARMS Rural Health Club
  • Medical student
  • Australian National University
Skylar grew up around in rural New South Wales in Broken Hill, Tumut and Jindabyne. Having lived the first six years of his life in the residences at Broken Hill Base Hospital, Skylar is passionate about improving rural health and through his involvement with the community, developed a deep appreciation for the culture in rural Australia. Skylar is a current student at the University of Wollongong where he has been heavily involved the SHARP, UOW’s rural health club as the Junior Allied Health Representative, Secretary, and subsequent President. Additionally, he has been involved in other student societies and a representative on the Student Advisory Council. Skylar considers it a privilege to be able to advocate for and support rural and Indigenous students throughout Australia.
You can reach Skylar at indigenous@nrhsn.org.au

Medical Officer – Maddy Brown

  • RHINO Rural Health Club
  • Medical student
  • James Cook University

Maddy grew up in regional and rural NSW, and relocated to Far North Queensland to study Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery at JCU, Townsville. Her experiences of regional and rural medicine growing up, along with the amazing opportunities she has been granted throughout her studies have solidified a strong passion for offering high quality health care to all people, regardless of their location. Maddy has been strongly involved with her rural health club, Club RHINO, acting as Medical Faculty Representative in 2019, and Club President in 2020. She is excited by the opportunity to represent medical students across Australia with a shared passion for rural health in her new role as Medical Officer, and is excited to contribute to the positive change that is occurring nation-wide for rural health.

You can reach Maddy at medical@nrhsn.org.au

Nursing and Midwifery Officer – Angela Pham

  • RHUWS Rural Health Club
  • Midwifery Student
  • Western Sydney University

Born and raised in South West Sydney, Angela has always had a drive to do more for her community. She previously studied a Bachelor of Pharmacy in Orange, NSW and believes this is where her passion for rural healthcare was sparked. Since then, Angela has endeavoured into studying a Bachelor of Midwifery and been an active member of WSU’s rural health club, RHUWS, serving as the midwifery representative in 2019 and now finishing up her term as Co-President in 2020. Both roles involved liaising with students and rural bodies to bring together events such as RHUWS’ Rural Outreach Trip to Wagga Wagga in 2019 and Dubbo in 2020. She’s also been involved with rural clinical immersion trips in towns such as Bathurst and Tamworth. Angela strives to bring adequate rural training and experience to Nursing and Midwifery students and is excited to represent these students nationally while working in a team of supportive, passionate and inspiring advocates.

You can reach Angela at nursing@nrhsn.org.au

Sponsorship and Publications Officer – Baneen Alrubayi

  • RHUWS Rural Health Club
  • Medical Student
  • Western Sydney University

Baneen was born and raised in Cobram, Victoria and moved to Sydney to pursue a career in Medicine. Baneen is currently a third-year medical student at Western Sydney University. She aspires to use her career to improve healthcare access to people from disadvantaged backgrounds, hence her passion for Rural and Global Health. She is looking forward to working with students who share her interest in Rural Health through NRHSN.

You can reach Baneen at publications@nrhsn.org.au

Social Media Officer – Debra Lee

  • SHARP Rural Health Club
  • Midwifery Student
  • University of Wollongong

Debra is a Perth girl who has moved to NSW to study medicine. She has been a pharmacist going on 7 years now, and still currently works from time to time. She has been lucky enough to work in regional and remote areas all over Australia, from places as small as Meekatharra in WA, to larger hubs like Mildura and Cairns. Her favourite thing about working in smaller areas is being a part of the local, tight-knit community. Currently, Debra is the Vice President at SHARP, and hopes to encourage as many students to be a part of their local rural health club. Her goal is to get everyone thinking about rural health, even if they plan on working in the city. She looks forwards to spreading the word as the new social media chair, and hopes you will follow along the journey!

You can reach Debra at socialmedia@nrhsn.org.au