Phoebe Lester - Future Graduate
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2026 AMA Queensland Foundation Medical Student Scholarship recipient and 6th Year Medical Student at James Cook University, Townsville.
An aspiring rural practitioner, Phoebe is interested in Obstetrics and Gynaecology as well as rural emergency retrievals. She is completing placements in both areas this year, with the goal of gaining experience and understanding of these roles as a future career goal.
“Women's health continues to be an area of great health discrepancy, and this is further exacerbated in rural and regional locations. I hope to one day make a crucial positive impact on this in my future role.”
While Phoebe has grasped the opportunity to complete rural placements in both of these areas, financially the additional costs will be a struggle.
“I have both a two-week placement in Cairns to work with the Royal Flying Doctors service, and then a second 10-week rural placement starting 2 weeks later. Being so close together, the associated costs of these placements place a significant additional financial burden, on an already stretched budget.”” she said.
Being financially independent means that up to now Phoebe has had to rely on part-time work to top up her youth allowance payments, but due to the long placement commitments in her final year, she is only able to work sparingly during term time
“I am left with less than $100 a fortnight after expenses come out. While this allows me to keep my head above water, it does not allow me to save, and I rely heavily on working during the holidays to save for the year.”
In her final year holidays are shorter, with a total of 4 weeks spread throughout the year. As such, Phoebe has had minimal opportunities to save for her rural and remote placements and is concerned about how she will support herself.
“My bills at home continue while on my placements away and we have additional expenses associated with attending community events; a key element of our placement goals.”
Phoebe said the scholarship will significantly decrease the financial burden and stress associated with her rural placements and allow her to take care of herself and her finances.
“The scholarship will allow me to fully immerse myself in my rural placement and experiences and crucially aid in covering the additional costs associated with travelling to and living in the rural area.”
Phoebe’s scholarship was supported by the Stan and Maureen Duke Foundation under the Foundation’s Sponsor one Student Program.