Bisal’s journey to transformative change in public health

Pharmacist, Bisal, wanted to put his knowledge of medicine into practice and bring change to his hometown in Nepal. He soon realised to achieve these goals he would need to advance his skill set with a Master’s degree specialising in health research and public health. 

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Darwin had always been Bisal’s top choice to study from the very beginning. He enjoys the peace and serenity of suburbia and the outback rather than the chaos of urban life.  

The lifestyle that Darwin offers, lots of cultural, sporting, entertainment, accommodation, and travel opportunities has been the greatest motivation to live and study public health at Menzies School of Health and Research (Menzies).  

"I found out that Darwin has its own peculiar lifestyle where you run your life with a certain pace, not decided by the environment, but by yourself, unlike cities down south. 

"Needless to say, Darwin also has the best sunset in the whole of Australia," says Bisal. 

Healthcare runs in his veins 

Bisal has a strong family background associated with the health sector, surrounded by doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. So he has always had a passion to pursue his own career in health.  

He studied an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy in Nepal and pushed himself out of his comfort zone to embark on a two-year Graduate Diploma in Health Research and Master of Public Health with Menzies School of Health Research at CDU. 

Shortly after he arrived, he faced the challenge of online studying due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this may have been a challenge in other places, the partnership between CDU and Menzies and their commitment to online learning made it a breeze. 

I have never had the experience of studying online but CDU student support services and my lecturers provided me with guidance in online learning.

A supportive student community helps during the tough times 

"Being an international student, away from the comforts of home and community can be overwhelming at times. One of the challenging aspects of studying was communicating with lecturers with confidence, and making friends."

During this time, he joined The Kindness Shake program as a volunteer, a community-led initiative to provide free meals to the student community affected by financial hardship due to COVID. This initiative provided Bisal with an extra opportunity to connect with the wider student community, improve his social skills and make friends.  

He advises fellow students to push themselves out of their comfort zone often and explore the opportunities that come with studying and moving away from home. 

The future for Bisal is bright, and he plans to return to Nepal after graduating and take the experience and confidence he has gained to join a reputable research hospital as a Pharmacist and Healthcare Consultant/Researcher to resolve public health and clinical issues in Nepal.  

Hear more about Bisal's study story in the video below:

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