Midwifery at Mahidol, Bangkok

I was one of the very fortunate 16 Midwifery students to be involved in the 2023 Global Short Program, Mahidol University Midwifery in Thailand. This experience was not only one of the most exciting experiences of my life but also life-changing. This program has given me a new perspective on the beauty of world culture. 

As part of my program, we toured the various campuses and facilities of Mahidol University and learnt about the key practices and philosophies of the healthcare system in Thailand. 

We began our program at Ramathibodi Hospital. From the outset of our program, the team at Mahidol University welcomed us with such kindness and went to great efforts in their hospitality. Even within our first introductions and hospital tour, I was immensely impressed by the sense of pride and passion that the team reflected in their work in maternity care. 

We also visited several other hospital sites across Thailand including Phayathai, Bangpli, and Sena hospitals. At each hospital, we were given tours of the antenatal clinics, labour and postpartum units. Even though geographically many of the hospitals were nearby, each campus had unique elements. Most poignantly, this experience made me reflect on the hospital facilities available in Australia.

Touring Phayathai, I kept spotting familiar pieces of equipment and thinking, “Wow, this seems very similar to Australia!”.  This opportunity to draw similarities between the facilities gave me an insight into the universality of healthcare and how we are all united by human experiences such as in life, health and death. Contrastingly, we all visited more rural hospitals with fewer resources and facilities. This also gives me an understanding of just how fortunate we are in Australia to have access to universal healthcare and state-of-the-art facilities.

However, my most resonating impression of Thai healthcare professionals was their sense of passion and pride in their work. The nation has a true respect for the work of healthcare professionals and the worker’s pride in this is evident in their passionate and hardworking approach to care. I have been truly inspired by the healthcare workers in Thailand and look to employ this approach in my own professional endeavours. 

A highlight of my experience was our ‘Cultural Night’. On this night, the Australian and Thai students exchanged presentations about our respective cultures. The Thai students performed traditional dance and invited us as we all joined in dance, song and many laughs. They also made a presentation about their culture and the influence of Buddhism on their social practices and way of life. This was a truly insightful experience of the spiritual influences on Thai society. This gave me a deeper appreciation of Thai culture.

The Australian students made our own presentation including our Indigenous culture and history, as well as some popular ‘Aussie’ topics such as sport, celebrities and of course, Bondi rescue. We performed the traditional Aboriginal song and dance with the Thai students, and we all laughed and chatted the night away. The friendships I have made from experiences like this night will last a lifetime, and I look to keeping in contact and visiting my Thai friends again. 

As much as this experience was a fun opportunity to meet new people and experience a whole new culture, it has also transformed my perspective of healthcare, and particularly, the international importance of midwifery care.  

Georgina Hyde
Faculty of Health
Midwifery at Mahidol University, Thailand
New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant Recipient