NOT YOUR TYPICAL BARRISTER BY LOUISE MATHIAS
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You ’ re too smart for this job .” Every now and then someone comes along who dramatically impacts our lives , and those words certainly changed mine .
After six years working as a medical practice manager , I was employed in 2002 by a highly regarded Obstetrician / Gynaecologist , Dr Chris Bradbury at St Vincent ’ s Clinic in Sydney , where I remained for eight years . After a couple of years working with him , he spoke those fateful words , and went on to say , “ Have you thought about doing some study as I ’ ll be retiring in a few years , and if you need some time off around exams I will assist you with that ?”
I had finished school almost 25 years earlier and I had not started or completed any tertiary education in that time , apart from some TAFE secretarial / Microsoft courses and medical terminology and basic medical courses . Let ’ s be honest … I didn ’ t even finish high school !
I was filled with self-doubt . Could I do it ? Did I have the brains to succeed or would I fail miserably ? I thought about enrolling in medicine but felt I was too old at 41 to begin that long path . I knew nothing about law but it did interest me , so while working full-time as a medical practice manager , I dived in and gave it my very best . No matter whether the outcome was success or failure , I knew I could do no more than that .
*** My working career had begun in Woolworths after leaving school at 16 , and I later moved on to a role in Westpac . Then in 1996 , I had commenced working for specialist medical doctors in private practice .
I had gone on to hold Practice Management positions in various medical specialities with some amazing doctors and health professionals , until 2002 , when I met the doctor who was willing to provide the encouragement and support I needed to realise the potential I didn ’ t even see in myself .
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