Christian Lane-Krebs is pursuing an ambitious dream to improve rural medical access and recently received a boost through Bundaberg Regional Council’s inaugural Bundaberg Region Youth Scholarship Awards (BRYSA).
BRYSA recognises and supports youth who have overcome significant obstacles in pursuit of their personal achievements.
The inaugural program received 31 nominations with seven recipients awarded based on merit by an Advisory Group made up of representatives from Youth Services Bundaberg, Link & Launch, CQUniversity and Bundaberg Regional Council.
The Council-initiated awards aim to provide recipients with more opportunities to pursue their education and training goals.
Christian Lane-Krebs has lived in the Bundaberg Region for most of his life, attending Woongarra State School and Kepnock State High School.
He attained the position of school captain at both schools in his final years.
Christian said his connection to the Bundaberg Region stemmed from childhood experiences, as a person with a disability and complex medical conditions.
“I have faced the challenges of rural health systems,” Christian said.
“I’ve experienced the positives and negatives of regional health systems, including regular travel to metropolitan areas for treatment.
“My lived experience has identified discrepancy between rural and remote to metropolitan medicine.
“My goal is to reduce the burden of access caused by geographical disparity.
“I aim to help close the gap of access to quality care in rural and remote medicine.”
Living with Cerebral Palsy and Haemophilia, Christian experienced an uphill battle with access and achievement in his education.
During his primary and high school journey, his classrooms took many different forms.
Sometimes it was a hospital ward or on a train travelling to specialist appointments.
Commencing his studies in 2020, Christian undertook a Bachelor of Medical Science degree at CQU through an early entry program called Start Uni Now (SUN).
This was in hope of entering the CQU’s Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine program.
“I am now a part of the second cohort of students who commenced the CQU/UQ Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) program based at the CQU Bundaberg campus,” Christian said.
“I’m pursuing my goal of becoming one of the first Bundaberg health professionals who was born, raised and educated here.”
One of Christain’s university lecturers encouraged him to apply for the scholarship.
“I thought that it would be a great opportunity to be able to further spread my story and motivate other youths within the Bundaberg community,” he said.
“Winning this scholarship allows me to purchase the necessary educational equipment to continue my education even when I may be away from my campus for medical appointments and treatments.
“It gives me access to further tutoring and educational assistance enabling me to maintain my high academic performance despite facing life and educational challenges.”
“As a Bundaberg local my favourite aspect about the region is the amazing sense of community and the support I’ve been given in the hope of seeing me succeed.”
Read more about Christian’s achievements here.
