Elysia still calls South Gippsland home

ELYSIA Robb, born and bred in Dumbalk, graduated late last year as a General Practitioner (GP).

“Graduating felt very good and it was a very nice event, but the real relief came when I had finished all my exams, about a year and a half earlier in 2020.”

It was “gruelling” she states, trying to work, study and look after her family at the height of COVID. 

After completing her medical degree with the University of Melbourne and training at various metropolitan Melbourne hospitals. Elysia undertook an additional three years of part time General

Practitioner training to be able to work in the specialist field of General Practice.

She also completed a stint observing at the Leongatha clinic. 

An interest in women’s health saw her complete her Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2017. 

Now as a recently graduated GP, Elysia remains interested in and has focus on women’s health, obstetrics, and mental health. She also has an interest in palliative and end of life care. 

“It hasn’t been an easy road having children while at university and looking after them while trying to establish myself as a doctor.” 

However, Elysia said it has been made easier with the part time options that are now available,  

“It is becoming a more parent and female friendly field to work in.” 

Elysia is interested in and advocates for this kind of change in the medical field and has witnessed the slow transformation over the last few years.

“This pathway is becoming more and more common for women doctors, as people are entering university later than previously. More male doctors are also taking this pathway, taking time out to care for their children while studying/working in medicine.” 

Elysia believes that creating options for part time work and training in the field, is making it easier for people like her to pursue a career in medicine, without having to sacrifice their family life, and she is a wonderful example of this.   

She was able to plan the pregnancies of her children to be 18 months apart, and to fit in 6 months of maternity leave, with her university and study schedule. 

But somehow, Elysia and partner Peter successfully pulled it off and now have a son Orly, 10 and daughter Leni, 9.  

She practices in a Melbourne clinic and lives in Melbourne, however, ventures back ‘home’ on a regular basis to visit her parents, in-laws and grandmother who reside lcoally in Inverloch, Kongwak and Leongatha.   

 “I feel lucky to have a place to visit often in the country. To breathe in that clean country air.” 

Growing up in the area, Elysia recalls being in the car a lot as a child, with her Mum taking her and her siblings to lots of extra curricula activities. 

“I felt very lucky, although I didn’t realise it at the time. I look back and realise how lucky I was. It was a great community actually.” 

Elysia attended Leongatha Secondary College and on finishing Year 12 took a gap year to Panama, where she learned to salsa dance. 

“I’ve just finished a salsa dancing class,” was one of the first things she said when speaking with the Sentinel-Times, and explains she has been salsa dancing ever since she went to Panama, close to 22 years now. 

On returning to Australia, her interest in maths and science saw her initially complete a bachelor’s degree in science and biomedical sciences at the University of Melbourne. 

“I loved the University of Melbourne and wanted to go there.” 

“I did my honours year at Peter Mac and worked in research for 5 years.” 

Elysia carried out research on cancer and the growth of cancer as well as Alzheimer’s disease. 

“I was interested in science and liked the idea of helping people… this became especially apparent when my grandfather was unwell.”

“I investigated medical avenues to help him.”

While working in the field of science, Elysia met medical doctors (who were) bosses and colleagues and who, she says, thought differently about research.

“I liked it. I thought, I want to know what they know.” 

“I applied for a graduate medical degree.” 

Now a few years on and working as a GP, Elysia says: “The job is consuming and demanding, but I feel privileged to look after others, to be able to help others.” 

When Orly (Elysia’s son) was asked what he thinks of having a mum who is a doctor, Orly states that he thinks, “It’s cool”.