Breana O’Toole is a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient from The Australian National University. Breana undertook the Public Health Study Tour in July 2024. Breana is studying Bachelor of Health Science.
Q:Why did you decide to undertake the ACICIS Public Health Study Tour?
I have enjoyed the public health courses that I have taken through my university previously and this tour seemed like a great opportunity to get further exposure to public health issues in a different setting. Learning about Indonesian public health in country appealed to me as I saw it as an opportunity to travel and I knew that my university would offer me credits too so it could count towards my degree.
Q: Did you receive a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant? If so, how did this contribute to your experience in Indonesia?
I am grateful for the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant that I received. It made me even more excited about the tour knowing that there would be less financial pressure and it made the tour more accessible to me and others.
Q: What did you find to be the most challenging about your experience on the PHST?
I found communicating with people in Indonesia the most challenging aspect of the PHST due to the language barrier. Especially in the first few days, I found it difficult to communicate as most Indonesians spoke little or no English. However, after a few Bahasa lessons, I felt a lot more confident communicating with people and was able to have basic conversations with restaurant staff, Grab drivers and people in the street. I also found that despite the language barrier, everyone in Indonesia was super welcoming and accommodating.
Q: What public health issues in Indonesia have you become more interested in/aware of as a result of this tour?
Through the course, I learnt about a broad range of public health issues; some that I had previous knowledge about and others I had never learnt about before. These included stunting, malaria, tobacco control and food safety. One of the topics I am become much more aware of was natural disasters and how they disrupt health service provision. This was the topic that my group created a presentation on and I was particularly interested in learning about government and Indigenous responses to natural disasters. Learning about Indigenous knowledge of natural disasters and how they prepare and respond in times of disaster from speakers and locals has helped me to appreciate alternative approaches to medicine and healthcare. There is an underlying theme of integrating Indigenous and community approaches into the Indonesian healthcare system for all the public health issues we learnt about and I found this very inspiring.
Q: What was your favourite field trip? Explain why.
My favourite field trip was to the YAKKUM rehabilitation centre. I was inspired by the people that worked there and the amazing work they are doing to support people with disabilities. They discussed the initiatives that their centre is involved in and we got to visit their preschool and workshop where they make prosthetics. The difference that this centre is making to peoples lives was evident and something truly special to witness. To top off the field trip, we got to visit the Cupable Cafe that employs and empowers people with disabilities and were treated to delicious drinks!
Q: How do you think the Public Health Study Tour will influence your future career or studies?
The Public Health Study Tour has made me eager to learn more about public health in other countries. So far in my studies I have focussed on Australia, but this course has shown me how much knowledge can be gained from studying overseas and listening to the experiences of people in other countries. I loved learning about public health in a different setting and hearing about Indonesia’s unique public health issues, initiatives and Indigenous knowledge.
I loved my time studying in Indonesia and this tour has made me more open to working and studying abroad. I would happily go back to Indonesia for work or study anytime!
Q:What did you most enjoy about the seminar series?
The seminar series was engaging and the highlight for me was hearing from speakers who were knowledgeable, passionate and highly experienced in the areas they spoke about. The series comprehensively covered a range of topics, from how climate change impacts maternal and child health to communicable diseases to tobacco control, and I was amazed by how much I learnt from having the privilege to interact with these amazing speakers.
Q: What was your favourite aspect about visiting Indonesia?
My favourite aspect of visiting Indonesia was learning about the Indonesian culture and getting to visit culturally significant temples, museums and monuments. I was particularly fascinated by batiks so one of my favourite experiences was visiting the batik museum, learning about how batiks are made and later creating my own batik in a workshop. Immersing myself in the culture through the tour has enriched my understanding of Indonesia and I had so many unforgettable experiences along the way!