“Amazing opportunity to broaden opportunities”
Date published:
21 Nov 2018
Dr Dawn-Louise Adair is encouraging eligible candidates to apply for RACP Indigenous Health Scholarships currently on offer. A previous recipient, Dr Adair spoke with us about her experience and provided an update on her career.
Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Tēnā koutou e hoa mā. Ko Tutāmoe tõku maunga. Ko Kai Iwi tõku roto. Ko Ngāti Whātua tõku iwi. Ko Dawn-Louise Adair taku ingoa. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Greetings to you my friends. Tutāmoe is my mountain, Kai Iwi is my lake and my family belongs to Ngāti Whātua. My name is Dawn-Louise Adair. Greetings to you all.
I am a Mum, wife and rehabilitation medicine trainee. I live in Auckland with my family: husband Fale and three children – Josiah (aged six years), Grace (aged five years) and Jonathan (aged six months). I studied medicine at the University of Auckland and graduated in 2009. Since that time, and with three babies in between, I have been slowly making my way through my rehabilitation medicine training program. I am planning on sitting Fellowship exams in 2019.
What scholarship did you receive and how did it assist you?
I received the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM) Indigenous Scholarship which supports those who identify as being of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pacific Islander heritage to enter the specialty. This has enabled me to attend the RACP Congress each year or alternatively while on maternity leave AFRM Conferences. In addition to this the scholarship has provided funding to support my membership with the New Zealand Medical Association, RMSANZ and to attend relevant hui.
How did you hear about the scholarship and why did you apply?
I found out about the scholarship via an email communication from AFRM. I decided to apply because I believed the scholarship would open more opportunities than I could access on my own, particularly with financial assistance to be a member of other medical organisations. The application process was easy and straightforward.
Would you encourage others to apply for the scholarship?
Absolutely! For me it has been an amazing opportunity to broaden my knowledge and experience.
What are you up to now?
I have been on maternity leave for the last seven months and I’m enjoying the last few weeks of being at home with the kids. Next month I’m due back at work full-time as I start to prepare for my Fellowship exams next year.
What are your hopes and goals for the future?
I hope to have my training finished by the end of 2019 and head overseas for a short time to gain an international perspective on rehabilitation before returning to New Zealand to work as a consultant. I would really like to make a real difference in the provision and capacity of rehabilitation services in New Zealand. I would love to have the opportunity to be part of seeing rehabilitation flourish and grow as a strong medical discipline for the greater good of all our people in Aotearoa.