Brisbane student wins medical scholarship
Couch-surfing may soon be a thing of the past for Brisbane student Chloe Batchelor, who has won an AMA Queensland Foundation scholarship for medical study.
The $5,000 annual scholarship helps financially disadvantaged medical students to study the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) course at a Queensland university.
Ms Batchelor, 27, said the scholarship would make a world of difference to her life, allowing her to focus on studying at Griffith University without the stress of wondering whether she could meet her living expenses.
“I’m the first person in my family to finish high school,” Ms Batchelor said.
Ms Batchelor’s plans to become a doctor were put in jeopardy in 2019 because of illness. Two major surgeries and six lengthy stays in hospital cemented her desire to help others.
By late last year, Ms Batchelor’s health had improved and she was able to re-enrol at Griffith University but, at the start of 2021, her fortunes were struck another blow when flash flooding inundated her car and rental property.
“It truly was the perfect storm. I became both homeless and carless and in a single evening,” she said.
AMA Queensland President Professor Chris Perry said the Foundation awarded two scholarships each year to open doors for promising medical students.
“We want to make sure all would-be doctors have a springboard into the profession, no matter what their background,” Professor Perry said.
Ms Batchelor said she was now looking forward to a future of helping those less fortunate.
“I want to help patients celebrate their highest moments and support and assist them through their lowest,” she said.
“What better way to do that than by being a doctor?”
For 21 years AMA Queensland Foundation has provided more than $455,000 to help 26 medical students in Queensland to pursue their degrees.
Help support disadvantaged students kick start their careers as doctors by making a donation to the AMA Queensland Foundation End of Financial Year Appeal. Make a tax deductible donation before 30 June.