OzTREKK Study in Australia Podcast

The Student Voice: Hein's Experience in an Undergraduate-entry Medical Program in Australia

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0400

While an undergraduate degree is a normal requirement to apply to North American medical schools, Australia has several med programs that offer undergraduate-entry options. That means that you can start medical school right after you complete high school.

Instead of spending eight years total completing an undergraduate degree and then an MD program, you can jump right into a five- or six-year medical program that still allows you to graduate as a doctor and practice medicine in Australia, Canada, or the United States. Even though you save a few years of schooling, the experience and training is nothing short of exceptional!

To learn more about what it’s like in one of these programs, OzTREKK medicine student advisor, Em, chatted with Hein. Speaking just one day before his graduation from James Cook University’s Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery program, Hein shares a great overview of the program, including highlights like providing on-the-road medical services in rural Australia, along with what it’s like to live and study in Townsville.

Conversation Highlights

· Introduction with Hein

· The Path to Medical School Straight from High School

· How Hein Heard about OzTREKK and Studying Medicine in Australia

· Why Hein Chose to Study Medicine at James Cook University

· Overview of the James Cook University Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

· Tips for Balancing School and Social Life While in Medical School

· How to Choose a Medical School

· Rural Placements

· Graduation and Next Steps

Want to know more about our topics of discussion?

· Learn more about James Cook University Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

· Explore Australian Medical Schools

· Learn about how to apply to medical schools in Australia

· Discover Townsville

Featured in this episode:

· Hein, James Cook University Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery Student

· Em, OzTREKK Medicine Student Advisor

· Blair, OzTREKK Marketing Manager

Want to know more about OzTREKK and studying in Australia?

· OzTREKK website

· Facebook

· Instagram

· YouTube

· TikTok

The Student Voice: Maya's Experience Studying Physiotherapy at Flinders University in Australia

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0400

With an aging and growing population, physiotherapy or physical therapy is an in-demand career in Canada. While Canadian physiotherapy schools have added more seats in recent years, the GPA and sometimes the Casper scores required still make it challenging to get an offer. Add in required work or volunteer experience, the need for references, and sometimes required interviews, applying to Canadian physiotherapy programs can feel like a full-time job.

For high-achieving applicants who’ve done it all and still don’t snag a seat, the journey doesn’t have to end. Australia is known for its leading-edge physiotherapy research and practice. Strong academic and clinical discipline underpin research, teaching, and learning. Courses are often taught by world leaders in the physio field. Add in the outdoorsy, active lifestyle so deeply engrained in Australian culture and suddenly Aussie physio programs become a first choice for aspiring physiotherapists, not just a back-up plan.

To learn more about what it’s really like to study physiotherapy in Australia, OzTREKK rehab sciences student advisor, Lilli, chatted with Flinders University Master of Physiotherapy student, Maya.

Conversation Highlights

· Introduction with Maya

· A Week in the Flinders University Master of Physiotherapy

· Hands-on Learning in the Flinders MPT

· Difference between Australian and Canadian Physiotherapy Programs

· Highlights from Living in Australia

· Life in Adelaide

· Maya’s Travel Bucket List

· Rapid Fire Questions

Want to know more about our topic of discussion?

· Learn more about Flinders University Master of Physiotherapy

· Explore Australian Physiotherapy Degrees

· Learn more about Adelaide

· How to Apply to Physiotherapy Programs in Australia

Featured in this episode:

· Maya, Flinders University Master of Physiotherapy Student

· Lilli, OzTREKK Rehab Sci Student Advisor

· Blair, OzTREKK Marketing Manager

Want to know more about OzTREKK and studying in Australia?

· OzTREKK website

· Facebook

· Instagram

· YouTube

· TikTok

How to Be Successful as a Lawyer: Lady Lawboss Shares Her Journey

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Going to law school is a big decision. You probably have a lot of questions about how to get there, what to do once you make it, and what happens afterwards. Most importantly, how do you know you made the right choices?

Melissa Gerrits, also known as Lady Lawboss, has been there. While growing up as a police officer’s daughter in Ontario, she wanted nothing more than to be a crown attorney. But after she made that goal a reality, she realized that it maybe wasn’t where she wanted to be after all. She then became in-house counsel for a Canadian university and started her own company, and spoiler alert, she’s happier now than she was before.

So, what advice does she have for people just starting out on their legal journey? Listen to find out!

Here’s what she discusses:

· Her personal education and employment background

· What her daily schedule looked like as a crown attorney

· What her daily schedule looks like as in-house counsel

· Why a law degree is always beneficial for securing a job

· Career options with a Juris Doctor degree

· What people won’t tell you about law school

· The importance of first-year grades and your second-year job

· The importance of outlines for studying

· The importance of law school friends and networking

· What you can expect to be paid when you first start out as a lawyer

· Gender diversity in the legal community

· What Melissa would do differently if she did it all again

· Why you should consider studying law abroad

· What you shouldn’t do in law school

· The importance of your reputation as a law student and lawyer

· Some inspirational words of advice

Want to know more about our topic of discussion?

· Apply now to Australian law schools!

· Explore Australian law programs

· Why a law degree never goes out of style

Featured in this episode:

· Melissa Gerrits (Lady Lawboss) — follow Melissa on Instagram at @ladylawboss

· Email our Law Admissions Officer at law@oztrekk.com for more info

Want to know more about OzTREKK and studying in Australia?

· OzTREKK website

· Facebook

· Instagram

· YouTube

· Twitter

Exploring the World of Public Health

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 15:00:00 -0500

Public Health. It’s an area of healthcare that has been referenced frequently this past year. But what exactly is public health? Could it be the perfect career for you? Will there be a demand for public health practitioners after COVID ends?

In this episode, we’re joined by Joel Negin, Professor and Head of the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health. Originally from Toronto, Joel has travelled the globe working in public health, and has spent the last several years in Sydney training students to make a difference in their own way!

Here’s what we chatted about:

· Joel’s background and how he ended up working in public health

· What public health is and how it relates to social justice

· How studying in Australia benefits Canadian public health students

· What a typical day in public health looks like

· What public health practitioners do

· Upstream and downstream factors on public health

· Why people go into public health

· Interesting backgrounds that students bring into public health degrees

· How a public health degree can benefit other areas of healthcare like medicine or dentistry

· How students know if public health is the right program and career path for them

· The importance of public health beyond COVID concerns

· COVID’s effect on conversations about public health and society

· Public health issues in Australia and Canada

· The University of Sydney’s public health program in relation COVID

· How interest in public health degrees has increased due to COVID

· What COVID contact tracing reveals about human behaviour

· Communicating data analysis to the public

· Mental health awareness in public health initiatives

· Successful public health projects

· Joel’s public health project in Fiji

· Joel’s advice to future public health students

Want to know more about our topic of discussion?

· Apply now!

· The University of Sydney Master of Public Health

· Public health programs in Australia

· Careers in public health

Featured in this episode:

· University of Sydney, Professor and Head of the School of Public Health — Joel Negin

· OzTREKK Marketing + Recruitment Coordinator — Blair Kerr

Want to know more about OzTREKK and studying in Australia?

· OzTREKK website

· Facebook

· Instagram

· YouTube

· Twitter

We Answer Your Study in Australia FAQs

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

You asked and we answered!

We get questions every day from students all across Canada and the United States asking us about application processes, financing options, what it’s really like to live in Australia (once you can get there), and licensing once you return home to start your career!

In this episode, OzTREKK team members, Blair and Shannon, give you the answers you’ve been looking for (along with a few very normal side conversations that are so typically “OzTREKK” 😉).

They also talk about:

· The OzTREKK and Australian university application process

· Finding references for your application

· How to pay for your degree

· How to minimize costs

· Health insurance in Australia

· How to obtain an Australian student visa

· How to set up an Australian bank account

· Types of accommodation

· Student life in Australia

· Online learning in 2020

· Setting up clinical rotations in Canada

· Starting your career in Canada

· Wildlife in Australia

Want to know more about our topic of discussion?

· Apply now!

· How we help

· Licensing in Canada

· Contact us

Featured in this episode:

· OzTREKK Senior Admissions Officer – Shannon Tilston

· OzTREKK Marketing + Recruitment Coordinator — Blair Kerr

· Canadian students — Makenna, Ashley, Reesha, and Yilin

Want to know more about OzTREKK and studying in Australia?

· OzTREKK website

· Facebook

· Instagram

· YouTube

· Twitter

Australia to India: Making Medical School Memorable

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 15:00:00 -0400

As if going to Australia isn’t adventurous enough, why not take the opportunity to do a multi-month clinical placement in India?

In this episode, third year medicine students, Yilin, Gabby, and Jordan, recall their time at Apollo hospital in the bustling city of Hyderabad. Some of the first students in the Macquarie Doctor of Medicine program, they have a passion for this progressive medical program and an appreciation for the long lasting professional and personal skills they acquired as a result.

They also talk about:

· The highlights of the Macquarie MD program

· The challenges of the Macquarie MD program

· Their expectations going into the Indian clinical placement

· Memorable moments at Apollo hospital

· Language barriers in India

· What it’s like to live in Hyderabad

· The design of the Macquarie MD program

· Indian private and public hospital systems

· Macquarie University Medicine Society

· Working in Apollo Hospital

· Free-time activities in India