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Ashley Cridland
Reflection
Ashley Cridland
Final year medical student at University of Notre Dame (Fremantle), WA
Before studying medicine, I lived in the WA Goldfields where I managed the Headspace Kalgoorlie centre. Here, I saw the need for greater mental health care in regional WA and this inspired my journey towards one day becoming a psychiatrist.
One of the highlight for me was the Sunday afternoon session with Dr Mat Coleman. He spoke about our unwritten contract to service the country – and this truly left me feeling inspired!
A further key learning came from meeting Associate Professor Vinay Lakra over lunch who spoke about acknowledging that mental health is applicable to all specialties not just psychiatry. Whether you’re in ED or on the surgical ward, the knowledge gained from the Congress is invaluable.
Finally, ending each day at a PIF social event was an incredible opportunity to network and build new connections in a career I care about so much about. It really felt like I had met my people.
Before studying medicine, I lived in the WA Goldfields where I managed the Headspace Kalgoorlie centre. Here, I saw the need for greater mental health care in regional WA and this inspired my journey towards one day becoming a psychiatrist.
One of the highlight for me was the Sunday afternoon session with Dr Mat Coleman. He spoke about our unwritten contract to service the country – and this truly left me feeling inspired!
A further key learning came from meeting Associate Professor Vinay Lakra over lunch who spoke about acknowledging that mental health is applicable to all specialties not just psychiatry. Whether you’re in ED or on the surgical ward, the knowledge gained from the Congress is invaluable.
Finally, ending each day at a PIF social event was an incredible opportunity to network and build new connections in a career I care about so much about. It really felt like I had met my people.
