Tash Jacobi found her perfect fit in paramedicine and began a new role at Kyneton in November.
It was her call to help others and a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010 that influenced her pathway into medicine.
“I became enthralled by what was happening there and had this overwhelming feeling of wanting to help in some way,” she said.
“I was watching the news updates 24/7 and just feeling really helpless and wanting to be there for the people who were struggling.”
Haiti was close to home for Tash who grew up in Canada and was still living there at the time.
“Doctors Without Borders were assisting in Haiti and I became fascinated by the help that they were providing to the community. Seeing them at work was the main reason I wanted to study medicine,” she said.
“It was a moment in my life when I knew what I was meant to do.
“I’ve always been drawn to helping people in general. It came from my mum who has always been a caring person who wanted to give. She instilled that into us kids.”
Tash was about 18 at the time and soon began her path towards medical school at Melbourne University after moving to Australia on duel citizenship in 2013.
During her early study she was still deciding which pathway to take in medicine and soon found her perfect fit in paramedicine.
“As soon I read about that profession I thought it was the best fit for me: both being able to do medicine but being out and practical in the field,” Tash said.
She completed her degree at LaTrobe University, Bendigo, in 2019, and worked in non-urgent patient transport for a year and a half before getting her first graduate position in Alice Springs, NT.
“It was an incredible experience and well-rounded exposure to what the job would be like,” she said.
“The paramedics there have a higher level of scope – so they’re able to do things at what would be a MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) level here. There were some incredible people there and really intelligent paramedics who were super supportive.”
The longer travel times and range of call-outs prepared Tash for her position at the Kyneton Ambulance Victoria branch, which she began last November.
“It’s a really great job in general. It’s constantly different so you’re exposed to a lot of things, it’s also not your 9am-5pm standard job. Every day is different. It’s a really fulfilling career,” she said.
“Coming to Kyneton, everyone here has been incredibly supportive. I have spoken to other graduates who have had a similar experience. It’s been the best. I’m really grateful for it.”
