Young Victorian Australian of the Year nominee Skye Kinder hopes to affect thousands of people’s lives for the better.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bendigo doctor has been recognised for her passion and efforts as a rural health advocate.
Dr Kinder’s passion grew from seeing her father travel regularly to Melbourne for treatment of a lung condition.
“He was told he wouldn’t see my 13th birthday but I am pleased to say I’m 27 and he is still with us,” she said.
“From early on I had a good appreciation of what healthcare was like for people outside the city. It made me realise how much of a difference I could make if I was involved with policy and advocacy.”
Dr Kinder said receiving the nomination reflected a team effort.
“Everything I’m involved in has always been team effort,” she said. “(Rural healthcare) has come a long way.
“A lot of people have worked hard for long time to make positive changes but it (will) take a lot more work to re-invent the metaphorical wheel and make it into a better wheel.”
Dr Kinder hoped young people remember there is no limits on what they can do.
“Anyone can make a big difference,” she said. “One thing that was said to me was if you change one word in a policy, it can affect thousands or hundreds of thousands of people's lives.
“As a doctor, there is so much opportunity to be in those decisions. It’s a waste to not to use it for people you care about, which for me is people in central Victoria and rural areas all over Australia.”
