Samita Kharel - Nepal, 22 January, 2024
It’s always been a dream of mine to come and study in Australia and I’m so excited that I am able to fulfill this dream. I have previously studied a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in India and have worked in the industry in my home country Nepal for three years. One of my career goals is to work with a combination of physiotherapy and health management so I can assist in improving the life of disabled children and give them better opportunities. The Health Management course will help me develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to make sound judgements in a high-pressure environment. This will prepare me to handle the challenges of managing healthcare facilities. To be able to pursue this dream I knew that I had to gain knowledge about leadership and organisational management so this is why I’m here at QUT.
Setting the foundation
As my English wasn’t perfect, I wanted to improve my skills so it would be easier for me to study my degree. I did the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course at the QUT College, and it was a great experience. I really enjoyed the course, and it helped me not only improve my English skills, but also taught me valuable skills in understanding assignments, referencing, and thesis writing. The teachers were very kind and helpful and were always available if you needed assistance. We had so much fun in class and the teacher really made us feel comfortable. I have made so many friends from different countries and cultures and we really enjoyed studying together.
Support services
HiQ has been a great place for me to ask any questions and seek help. They are so nice and helpful and are always able to help me solve my problems. I’ve also used student support services for getting help checking my draft assignments. They provided me with feedback on the content and grammar - it was so useful, and I’ve used it numerous times. I’m very grateful for the support QUT offers students. I find it really helps improve my academic success.
Why I love studying at QUT
I enjoy that QUT offers valuable industry insights with guest lectures and opportunities to grow and develop your leadership qualities. We have had talks from experts from Queensland Health and AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Health Regulation Agency) which was so interesting, and I learnt a lot from them and how to get into the health industry. The lecturers are very supportive and helpful, they are always there if you need to ask a question.
One of my goals is to become a speaker and a leader in the health field. QUT helps me reach these goals by recognising my weaknesses and teach me how to develop these to my advantage. My lecturers get me out of my comfort zone by doing presentations and provide me feedback which has helped me grow and improve my confidence.
My favourite units are health systems and quality and health safety. Learning about health systems can highlight the broader impact of healthcare on individuals and communities. Health system courses typically involve aspects of economics, management, sociology, and public health. I am very interested in learning more about the Australian health systems and what makes this health industry one of the best health systems in the world. These courses offer a global perspective, allowing me to understand healthcare challenges and solutions on a broader scale. I also appreciate to learn more in-depth about the quality and health safety which is very important to deliver high quality and safety services in healthcare organisations. We learn about techniques and methodologies for continuous quality improvement in healthcare settings, this includes; patient safety, including error prevention, risk management, and creating a culture of safety within healthcare organisations which is something that I’m very interested in. My lecturers are fantastic and are great to organise activities a to make learning more fun and interesting.
I’m looking forward to next semester when I will be doing my internship. I like to work within Queensland Health or Non-Government Children organisations as this aligns with my passion.
Living in Brisbane
I already have family in Queensland, so they helped me a lot settling into living in a new country and finding a place to live. I like Brisbane because it has a subtropical climate, which means it has mild winters and warm to hot summers. The favourable weather attracts people like me, who prefer a climate with plenty of sunshine and outdoor activities. The city is known for its outdoor lifestyle, with numerous parks, riverside areas, and outdoor recreational opportunities. The Brisbane River runs through the city, providing a scenic backdrop for activities such as jogging, cycling, and picnicking.
When I’m not studying, I love going for evening walks, along the river as it has a nice relaxing feeling with all the lights. I also like to take the City Cat ferry up and down the river and take in the scenery. Another favourite of mine is the Lone Pine Koala sanctuary is fantastic. Here you can experience all the Australian animals and I really love the kangaroos and koalas; they are so cute.
On the weekends I like to catch up with friends over a barbeque. So many parks have free barbeques for people to use. One of my favourite spots are Roma Street parklands. I also like to explore things outside Brisbane such as the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast which has great beaches and scenery.
My future goals
After I graduate, I hope to find a job in the health management sector to get experience in Australia which will help me to set up my own business. Nepal doesn’t provide as high-quality healthcare services and healthcare management so I’m very keen to learn more about this in Australia and explore all the opportunities Australia has to offer. I want to work in a hospital with a health management team to learn different aspects such as leadership skills, problem-solving skills, budgeting and evidence-based practice. The skills that I learn from Australia I want to use those to improve the health care system of Nepal. Apart from that in future I would like to connect with NGO (non-government organisations), INGO (International non-government organisations) or governmental organisation to make children’s life better by providing them education and better health in my home country or other poor countries. I also want to use my physiotherapy and health management skills to make a better life for disabled children.
My advice
QUT is very good university where you can experience lots of things and I really enjoy it here. The support is great with many opportunities to grow with extracurricular activities. I participated in a photo and video shoot which was a good opportunity to meet with other students. I encourage you to take part in different activities that QUT offers you and grow your leadership skills which will help your studies to become fruitful and provide you with a real-world experience.
