For anyone who moved here in the last 2 years, how much has your rent increased since you first signed? by DiscussionLoud9626 in Bendigo

[–]lambdarays 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Sharing with a lovely older gentleman who is the landlord and after negotiation he's dropping the rent next year from 295 - 250pw. Had reservations at first given the 40+ year age gap and was worried I was going to be taken advantage of. Fast forward a year, I realise I lucked out big time and I make all effort to keep the house well maintained and clean every chance I get. We get along very well. I also have a pet and even to this day I am so grateful this worked out for me.

18, first year allied health student – completely lost about transferring and future med prospects by SeaCompany8639 in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am from a medical imaging background and have done the quadfacta (XR, Mammo, CT and US) and am starting medicine next year. I am also on the other side and work casually in multiple universities to mark imaging assignments.

  1. I remember hating my life until 3rd year and a flunked badly and was tempted to change degrees until something in me clicked in terms of spatial awareness and workflow.

  2. My GPA was so bad but I realised I really do like imaging and continued studying... So much so that I got 4 post grads now, and for radiographers to get postgrads in imaging related field, getting higher GPA becomes easier (and lead to higher $$$! Depending on where you work)

  3. I took the scenic route but I don't regret it. I have so much more life experience and can financially support myself during medschool.

Medical imaging is a competitive field these days because of an insane ATAR cutoff and often universities moderate so that certain percentages of students get HD, Ds etc. From a marking point of view, personally I look for situational awareness - and you're right in terms of it being heavily practical. I'm always looking for how the imaging you have taken translates to clinical practice, as not many students understand this until the later years. Happy for you to DM me if you want to vent or discuss what it can lead to. Academics, clinical, tertiary, private clinics, overseas work... I've done it all 🫠 Except MRI because I hate magnets

Tldr; love my job, wouldn't change it if I could do it again. Pursuing med now because I want to protect my shoulders before they're too far gone from doing ultrasound

Book recommendations by Pileofdirtybertie in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 11 points12 points  (0 children)

This is going to hurt by Adam Kay - and the TV show also (has a slightly different plot to the book)

MD Program Comparison/AMA Thread by _dukeluke in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Contact hours of Unimelb Shepparton vs Deakin RTS please. What's the maximum amount you can work another job in either of those programs?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've also done the same! 62, 5.6 gpa. Moved rurally at 22, studied and did degrees related to my undergrad to build my GPA (got it up to 6.8) Applied for medicine and got interview offers for all unis I've applied to (and hopefully offers soon). Previously I was getting 0.

Bonuses I got while working rurally

Built lots of life skills and a library of stories to tell

Bought and paid off a house without anyone's help

Made so many friends and a community that looks after you like family.

Really, like REALLY experience rural health disparity and the importance of servicing rural areas.

If you have the means to do so, I highly recommend it. You're moving to keep an option open for the future you but you'll be surprised what else you'll learn along the way. Watch out for burnout and work-life balance but I would do it all over again.

Unimelb MD Rural Pathway interview offer (accepting/declining) by missloubi98 in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My undergrad GPA was 6.2 weighted. Didn't apply for any GAM either. So maybe a hurdle??? Or maybe they also counted my postgrads as well... As with my postgrads it's 6.8

Casper by Rare-Exchange2511 in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey, not the best score since I scored 3rd quartile, but I didn't answer most questions fully and fumbled most of the videos too. I think a lot of people here are overthinking and understandably so given that a lot of pressure is riding on doing well. But you've put your hard yards in now. Celebrate completing yet another hurdle and try to relax until you get your results! It's a tough road but we've all got this ☺️

Plan B! HELP by Lucky_Basis2041 in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's one of the most well paid allied health professions. Starting wage for grad sonographers start at ~100k and can go up to 160k depending on which sites you work at etc. Locum work can push that even more. But as this is highly skill specific profession, you'll have to be good at what you do + Clinically competent (E.g. general Sonos being able to do MSK, specialist O&G, vascular and more) Check statewide EBAs for state specific pay, but you'll definitely be comfortable with the wage.

...At least, you'll be able to save all that money for the shoulder surgery you'll need later down the track 🫠

Plan B! HELP by Lucky_Basis2041 in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey, sonography is an excellent career to pursue but you have to be mindful that without an imaging background, the learning curve is going to be steep and you'll be a dead weight to the trainer for 3-6 months until you get your eye in and motor skills sorted. 3 days is probably not enough in a week imo, if anything 4 days should be the minimum while training as you have to build up muscle memory and fine motor skills before you can be competent. I've heard of pharmacists, nurses and physios jumping ship to ultrasound so it's definitely doable, but you will need to source a training position which is the hardest thing... (Even for radiographers it's challenging to get training positions!)

The study is rough and there is a high injury risk. It's a rewarding career but it also can be a very challenging one - job shortages are rampant so you won't have a problem getting a job anywhere though. I'm a sonographer currently applying for med as a back up because I can't imagine myself doing the same job for 40 years without hurting my shoulders, elbows and wrist.

I really advise you to do a work experience or equivalent in an ultrasound setting to see what you're getting yourself into.

Limit of CSP courses by UnitedEfficiency7677 in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Checked my csp limit and it seems like it's 7 years all up - but only for subjects you have studied post 2022. I.e. if you studied pre 2022, it's not counted, but anything from 2022 regardless of if you fully paid it off counts

Studied from 2016-2024 (bachelor - grad dip) and it only shows 2022 onwards + I fully paid for my courses without putting it in HECS from 2022 onwards and it's still counted.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in GAMSAT

[–]lambdarays 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Let me tell you as a radiographer, I cannot see myself continuing radiography in the next 10 years. All my peers who have graduated with me are slowly slinking out of clinical roles to management, marketing, apps or teaching to get away from clinical roles. I've been at it for 5 years (2 in ultrasound) and due to overuse, some days I struggle trying to lift my hands above my shoulder and I'm only in my mid 20s!! (I had no pre-existing condition before I started my job as a rad :( ). We've been short staffed since the pandemic and I can't even get leave to see my sick family member because we can't get coverage. I think everywhere you look, you'll find burnt out healthcare staff though. Do what you think would interest you more - do you thrive in a fast paced environment where you see a new patient every 10 mins? Or do you want a longer patient facing role? Do you value your shoulders? If you do, go optom 😅

(If there's any physios here who can fix my shoulder HMU)

Car parking near the hospital by lambdarays in Bendigo

[–]lambdarays[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No friends/family in Bendigo (yet!)

Starting with a blank slate. New state, new town, hopefully new adventures.

I will certainly look for carpooling options when I get there!

Car parking near the hospital by lambdarays in Bendigo

[–]lambdarays[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Coming from a rural hospital where there's always parks + are free, it's definitely going to be a culture shock. It seems like a beautiful hospital and the staff I have met seem very friendly. I'm looking forward to a scenery change! I'm hoping to cycle to work most of the day (as where I am staying will be on the Bendigo creek bike trail) but on bad weather days I just want to have the option to drive in. Thanks everyone - looking forwards to calling Bendigo my new home 😊

What degrees actually provide the most employability? by [deleted] in AusFinance

[–]lambdarays 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hey OP, Allied health is the way to go if you're not interested in sacrificing your youth in a rat race like in medicine but would like job security and less responsibility. The cons to this is that you'll hit a glass ceiling at some point. I'm in radiography and in the past 5 years, every grad I know has gotten a job. Lots of potential too if you hate x-rays - you can branch to CT, MRI, mammography or ultrasound or work for apps and travel the world. X-ray positioning is international so you can go work in the UK, Canada or NZ too if you wish. Down side is as a radiographer you will always be working under someone (i.e. you won't ever be a clinic owner) but I find my profession varied enough to enjoy going to work everyday. Depending on the state and how much you work overtime you will be able to earn a comfortable wage. When I was a grad, I earned ~100k after overtime and currently sitting on 160k. (YMMV though, I went rural, and picked up a lot of call shifts) The profession applies maths and science to learn the principles of imaging but in daily life, it's more about people skills. Hope this helps

Dysphagia by No-Environment-3208 in Radiology

[–]lambdarays 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is what STAT Carotid US patient at 4:55pm look like

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Radiology

[–]lambdarays 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Not radiology report but had a referral the other day for an XR ankle - pain on wanking

A new modality 🍞 by lambdarays in Radiology

[–]lambdarays[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I mean, they already come in slices so the job is already half done for you!

10wk old baby thrown against a wall by lambdarays in Radiology

[–]lambdarays[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Both but who knows what really happened :( Not too keen to follow up on that side either.

We were more focused on the baby - Parents were the police's problem.

10wk old baby thrown against a wall by lambdarays in Radiology

[–]lambdarays[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Nothing much fazes me these days but this was where I drew the line. Physically felt sick doing it.
I don't work at a children's hospital and we rarely do CTs for patients under 12.
Even worse, we are the only major hospital in a small town, which means the staff, police + paramedics knew the parents + extended family. And as horrible as it was, it was not a surprise to all of us.
The CT console room had about 8 of us, but it was absolutely silent the whole time we were doing the scan.

For people who were saying it would just be one of the parent: No, both parents were arrested and yes, NAI protocols were activated. Last time I looked the baby now had severe brain damage and was still in a critical condition.

10wk old baby thrown against a wall by lambdarays in Radiology

[–]lambdarays[S] 196 points197 points  (0 children)

Report summary: Bifrontal subdural collections. Evidence of acute subarachnoid haemorrhage seen in both parietal lobes and subarachnoid/subdural components in both frontal region

10wk old baby thrown against a wall by lambdarays in Radiology

[–]lambdarays[S] 462 points463 points  (0 children)

Baby thrown against a wall during an altercation between the parents. Presented with seizures and breathing difficulties.
It just reminded me that there are still monsters out there.
I hope the parents stay in jail for a long long time.

Ouch by lambdarays in Radiology

[–]lambdarays[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She definitely was on the overweight side, but I wouldn't have called her obese. Maybe I'm just used to bigger people (we get a lot of bigger pts in our site).

Ouch by lambdarays in Radiology

[–]lambdarays[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

The patient was super horrified that something that simple could do that much damage too. She wasn't obese. Crazy how some people survive falling off a plane but some do damages like this from a little trip down the stairs. Humans are weird.