Putting Maryborough on the map for medicine

On the rare occasions that siblings Lauren, Rowan and Jasmine Pienaar are back at the family home in Maryborough, dinner-table conversations about school and sport have now been replaced with talks of specialties and study.

That is because all 3 have chosen to pursue a career in medicine through UQ.

Rowan says that no-one in the family grew up thinking they’d become a doctor.

“We were all motivated kids who enjoyed problem solving, but for me, the idea of studying medicine only came in Year 10 and 11 when I found myself enjoying the complexities of my physics, maths and chemistry subjects,” Rowan recalls.

“After sitting the UMAT exam in the hope of provisional entry to medicine, my older sister Lauren decided to follow the same path.

“By the time both Lauren and I were studying medicine, Jasmine decided to join in the fun, gaining provisional entry to medicine as well.”

The decision meant that all three had to move to Brisbane to undertake study, although thanks to the Rural Clinical School, Lauren and Rowan were able to complete some of their medical degree back in the Wide Bay region through the Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit.

In 2024, youngest sister Jasmine will start her fourth year in Hervey Bay.

The pull to come ‘home’ to Wide Bay has been felt by all siblings at some stage after leaving home.

The Pienaar family lived in Brisbane for several years, and after multiple moves within the city limits, relocated to Maryborough when Rowan was 10.

Rowan believes being raised in a regional setting and coming from a middle-class background helped shaped the way he conducts himself as a doctor.

“I started Year 5 with Maryborough West Primary School and went on to study at Aldridge State High School,” Rowan explains.

“We are the first in our family to attend university, and work in the medical field.

“I don’t meet many other doctors who went to public schools or who’ve come from a similar background to me.”

Feeling that sense of belonging and backing from community has been an important factor in the decision making process for all 3 siblings.

“We’ve all been drawn to the smaller learning environments like in Hervey Bay because of the community support, the opportunity to make friends and the closeness to home.”

Parents Jenny and Tim Pienaar are very proud of their children and still feel a sense of shock and surprise that they have created a family of doctors.

“If someone in Maryborough asks us how the kids are, they are often shocked in a good way to hear they are all doing medicine,” Jenny explains.

Jenny says that whatever path the kids land on won’t impact the relationship they have with one another.

“They all get along really well and are supportive of each other, even if they are hundreds of kilometres away,” Jenny explains.

“I hope that other kids in regional towns see that pipedreams can come true.”

Right now, Lauren is practising as a junior doctor in Cairns but has been accepted back to the Hervey Bay Hospital in 2024.

Rowan is completing his internship at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, and Jasmine is completing her third year of medicine with UQ in Brisbane.

Learn more about the Regional Medical Pathway.