Canadian Consul General joins students

With Canadian nationals accounting for close to two thirds of the Faculty’s international medical students, it is no surprise that a recent reception organised by the Office of Global Health for Canadian Consul General, Mr Thomas MacDonald, was well attended.

Students and staff across health faculties attended the reception, to hear Deputy Vice Chancellor (International) Professor John Hearn, and the Deans of Medicine and Dentistry, Professors Bruce Robinson and Eli Schwartz, and Mr MacDonald speak about the strength of ties.

Of the 179 international students across four years of Sydney’s medical program, 119 are Canadian.

Mr MacDonald said he understood why Australia was a popular destination for Canadian students. With strong historical and cultural ties, Canadian students felt at home in Australia, he said.

“Canada and Australia lie on opposite sides of the globe, but we have a similar past and have developed along similar lines,” he said. “That allows us to come together naturally, enjoy close ties and an enduring friendship.”

Speaking at the reception, Professor Bruce Robinson noted the importance of international students to the medical program, for the different experiences and perspectives they brought and also for the connections developed between local and international students which pave the way for future clinical and research collaborations.

The University and Faculty were working to resolve an area of major concern for international students, and that was the potential lack of internship places, he said.