Australia is facing a shortage of veterinary and medical general practitioners. While there are some distinct pressures, there are also some commonalities. At every stage, the privileged are advantaged - Selection (as highlighted by soon-to-be Dr Khan) - Clinical rotations (have to quit paid employment to constantly move around, incurring travel expenses while working without pay) - Training requires all med grads (& an increasing number of vet grads) to compete for training positions in their chosen specialty (the colleges, particularly in human surgical specialties, operate like private members only clubs where it’s a distinct advantage if the Chair of the Committee likes you personally or if you went to the same private school as the Old Boys on the Committee) - Even when you’ve completed training & proven your knowledge, experience and skills, it’ll be the College who ultimately decides whether to admit you as a consultant. Throughout all this, if you are facing physical or mental health challenges or managing a disability, or have caring responsibilities, you will have to manage those while navigating this gauntlet & working 24/7. These systems are (by accident or design) hostile non-relational systems based on the ‘power over’ model rather than ‘power with’. They maintain unjust power imbalances where privileges are granted to powerholding groups or individuals. Some people are invested in maintaining 'power over' at the same time as withholding power from, or disadvantaging others (Dr Melanie Joy, 'How to End Injustice Everywhere'). Soon-to-be Dr Khan is amongst those challenging these entrenched non-relational systems and shifting the power balance. Change can't come soon enough. https://lnkd.in/gAa5b8dr #equity #equityineducation #equityandinclusion #equitymatters #diversityequityinclusion #diversitymatters #diversityineducation #diversityinaction #diversityatwork #compassionateleadership #compassioninaction #compassionmatters #inclusionmatters #inclusiveeducation
