Kerrie Aust believes it’s impossible to separate climate change and healthcare. 

Dr Aust, the incoming AMA ACT president, says: “When we think about climate change, heat stroke is the one that comes to mind, but as our climate rapidly shifts through cycles, […] we’re seeing increased rates of blood-borne virus vectors like dengue fever, Ross River virus.

“We have increased risks associated with bushfire smoke, obviously that’s a really significant one, […] we think about asthma and heart failure, but it also affects pregnant women. 

“We see more hospitalisations during heat waves, we actually see more skin infections. So especially for our elderly population, trying to be able to stay cool and keep their skin integrity can be really challenging. And that’s one that we don’t talk about enough.

“Floods. When these things happen, it affects our ability to access healthcare, because clinics get closed down, it affects people’s capacity to access fresh food, because farms get flooded and food supply becomes challenging.

“It affects our cost of living, because insurance premiums go up. 

“Across so many aspects of our lives, climate change is affecting our health right now. And we’re in a wealthy country.”

Kerrie had always wanted to study medicine, “but I wasn’t the strongest student in high school.”  

“While I was at university, my mum got sick and I was her carer for the next eight years, and I had a lot of contact with the health system over that time,” she says.

“I was very inspired by her GP and the GPs that looked after her in palliative care as well.

“And after she passed away, I had this moment of what am I going to do with my life? And I decided that I’d pursue medicine.” 

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing, she says.

“My kids grew up in the library and, you know, they’d come in on the weekends and I’d study, and then someone would need a study break, so they’d take him and kick the footy around for a while and then come back,” says Kerrie. 

“I’d put them to bed, turn the heater off, put my gloves and my hoodie on and study, because it was pretty tight a lot of the time. 

“It’s one of the reasons why I think access to affordable housing is so important, because it was tight. I was really lucky I kept a roof over my head.

“I had great support. I worked a few jobs while I was at med school […] but it’s a big commitment to take that time out of the workforce and study.”

While pursuing medicine, Kerrie says she worked at the Institute for Applied Ecology, at the University of Canberra.

This background ensures streamlining the healthcare system is a priority for Kerrie.

“I don’t like inefficiency,” she says. 

“I’m an auditor by trade and I’ll never let go of that.”

In order to streamline the healthcare system, she says we need to look at the best practice models internationally, and form evidence-based policy. 

“I absolutely want to see every possible idea put on the table, but after the idea goes on the table, there needs to be proper consultation with the people who are on the ground, who can talk about risk and benefit,” she says.

“It’s not enough to say we consulted, it’s a co-designed model… it actually has to be meaningful and draw on the experiences in all jurisdictions.”

We also have to start looking at healthcare from a more holistic perspective, she says, because healthcare is not just about what goes on in the clinic room or what goes on in the theatre.

“It is about looking at the whole person, linking them into physio, making sure they can walk, have they got access to healthy food and the right food? Are they safe in their own home? Are they getting an education so that they can carefully dissect misinformation?” she says.

The role of AMA president is done on a volunteer basis.

“Throughout my time at medical school, every single day in my clinic room, people have been generous with time and knowledge and education and skills and patient care,” she says.

“So, for me, a big part of why I wanted to do this is about being able to give back to that medical community that has just been extraordinary for me.”