Edna Correal

“Walking and feeling safe is freedom, and this is how I have chosen to live”

Edna Correal

Country of origin: Colombia.

Occupation: Doctor. State of Residency: VIC. Favourite place in Australia: My city, Melbourne. Upon arrival: Surprised by the big sky and its beauty.

By Jael Rincon & Cristina Abela

Edna is a medical doctor who is proud to be part of the Australian frontline workforce dealing with the current COVID-19 pandemic. She works at St Vincent’s Medical Centre – ACU in Fitzroy as a General practitioner where she looks after hospital and university staff and students as well as the broader community. Edna has provided health care for people in Melbourne, Ballarat, Canberra and in the rural communities of Echuca and Daylesford. It fulfils her to be able to help the Spanish speaking community in Melbourne attending their needs in their language. Responding to the current pandemic has been the most challenging situation during her medical career.

TELL US YOUR STORY

My dream, when I was a kid, was to travel overseas to learn English and to see other cultures. My family supported this and it was decided I would travel once I completed university. I obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Universidad del Cauca in Colombia. For the full medical registration, I had to work in a rural area for a year. During this time I planned and prepared myself, financially and in every other aspect, to achieve my goal. In 1999, I chose Australia as it was not a popular destination and it felt more adventurous. My original plan to stay for 9 months turned into a life-changing decision.

I had been living in Australia for seven months when my mother wisely persuaded me to continue further studies here. The health system in Colombia was in a crisis. On the same day, one of my English teachers at La Trobe University helped me to make my resume. She and my two Australian housemates helped me prepare for an interview for a job with the Department of Human Services. I got the job and my life changed. I extended my visa, studied hard and sat the Australian Medical Association exams to obtain medical registration.

Edna outside the Ballarat Base Hospital in 2004.

My first job as a Hospital Medical Officer was at the Ballarat Base Hospital. This opportunity arose after doing a period of clinical observer-ship at the Emergency Department where I met one of my mentors, great colleagues and a very supportive team. Since then, I have worked in different hospitals and clinics in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. I feel lucky that I have had opportunities to work in both metropolitan and rural areas, attending to vulnerable populations such as indigenous communities, Afro- Colombians, people with intellectual disabilities and immigrants.

I am proactive in keeping updated. I attained a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and I hold a Diploma in Child Health awarded by the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the University of Sydney. I also take every possible opportunity for participating in a range of academic events in Australia and overseas.  I undertook the Short Course in Travel Medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and I am a currently a Doctoral Member of the International Society of Travel Medicine.

I believe self-care is of paramount importance to provide care to others. I am a Foundation Member of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine and in recent years, I have attended courses such as Tools for Promoting Healthy Change at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. One of the most useful courses I have participated in, was Mindfulness in Medicine by Tony Dunin.

I believe in Australia you can achieve every goal you set for your career and your life. I live in an inner city suburb with my husband. This is convenient as I enjoy walking around the Botanical Gardens, the Yarra River and Port Melbourne Beach.

Edna with colleagues - Department of obstetrics and Gynaecology at Eastern Health 2008.

CHALLENGES

Lack of Information - Information on how to get my degree recognised towards the Australian qualification was not easily available at the time. No one I knew had gone through this process. However, I found out if you are determined, you will find whatever information you need.

Discouraging advice - Although people do not mean to affect you, people provide advise based on their own life experiences. Know what you want, be realistic and try your best regardless of your fears and the opinion of others.

Distance - Being far away from family and friends is not easy. The costs of phone calls and the fact that there was not social media back then, made any form of communication a real treasure. Post-cards and emails were the only ways to feel close to family.

Edna in her current challenging role - helping the community during COVID-19 pandemic.

CONTRASTS

Equality - Equality is one of the Australian values that I appreciate the most. Thanks to this we can thrive in social harmony. The spirit of egalitarian, mutual respect and tolerance are imprinted in Australian society. Fair play, the public good and the equality of opportunity make this a great country.

Respect - Australians show respect for others, their institutions, the law, and the life and wellbeing of others. There is great respect for different cultures, different ways of thinking and different religions. I really like the “Acknowledgement of Country” used in Australia at the beginning of every event. This message is a meaningful act and inspires me to pay respect to the community. *

Safety - Australia is a safe country. I was surprised to see I could leave the front door of my house open and to see unattended shops where you can self-serve and leave money in a box. Walking and feeling safe is freedom, and this is how I have chosen to live.

Edna being awarded the fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

PIECE OF ADVICE

Do your research - It is important to plan and to be prepared before landing in Australia so you know what to expect. Exhaustive financial planning is of paramount importance.

Be curious and learn - English is an initial priority as proficiency leads to great opportunities not only within the workforce and further studies but also to be able to immerse yourself in the culture, get to know the area you live in, participate in cultural events, talk to people and discover different ways of life.

Take time for yourself - Healthy lifestyle and activities to motivate yourself should be an essential part of your life. Make sure you are talking to your loved ones and expressing your feelings, particularly during difficult times. Taking the time to sit and write helps to clear your thoughts.

IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS

Edna would like to undertake further studies in global health and lifestyle medicine and to continue her studies in French, photography and wine. Seeing her family as often as possible will continue to be her number one priority.

*About the acknowledgement to country, there are different versions. Edna refers to : “I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I work and live, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.”