Ananya Ravi is a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient from The Australian National University. Ananya undertook the Public Health Study Tour in July 2024. Ananya is studying Bachelor of Health Science.
Q:Why did you decide to undertake the ACICIS Public Health Study Tour?
I was really keen to participate in ACICIS because it was a great way to learn about global health in a practical setting. I’ve always been interested in healthcare and wanted to broaden my understanding of the systems in countries outside Australia. I love travelling and learning about new cultures so this nicely tied in too!
Q: Did you receive a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant? If so, how did this contribute to your experience in Indonesia?
I was fortunate enough to receive the New Colombo Mobility Grant to assist my participation in the program. The government support alleviated the financial component and helped me mentally prepare, through introductory modules that were provided to us prior to departure. Specifically, they were great for the culture shock which I definitely experienced initially!
Q: What did you find to be the most challenging about your experience on the PHST?
Honestly, it was the heat. Coming from the Canberra winter where we suffer horribly low temperatures all day to then being blasted with 30 degree heat was a huge shock to me. I acclimated very quickly, but it also meant that my energy depleted fast. The tour is intensive and there are a lot of activities that introduced us to the Indonesian healthcare system. While sometimes I did feel a bit drained, the plentiful downtime was a great chance to recover and also explore the area!
Q: What public health issues in Indonesia have you become more interested in/aware of as a result of this tour?
Before going on this tour, I had very minimal knowledge of the Indonesian healthcare system. Through the seminars and especially field visits, we were exposed to a broad range of topics including stunting, natural disasters and climate change, as well as food security with the changing environment. There was so much that we covered but the most interesting for me was related to the stigma and cultural prejudice towards conditions such as HIV.
Q: What was your favourite field trip? Explain why.
I loved the field trip to the Kebaya Foundation where we met Mami Vinolia who founded the organisation. They provide shelter and care for people who have been ostracised due to having the HIV disease, in particular trans women who face a double stigma. This field trip was so inspiring and learning about the challenges faced by these individuals really put things into perspective for me. This is one trip I don’t think I will ever forget.
Q: How do you think the Public Health Study Tour will influence your future career or studies?
I’ve been at a crossroads between studying organic chemistry and medical science for almost my entire undergraduate degree. This tour really helped me solidify my interest in the health sector and has encouraged me to consider pursuing a career in something health related.
Q:What did you most enjoy about the seminar series?
The seminars were super interesting but in particular I enjoyed the seminar on population statistics where the lecturer would ask a question on every new slide to retain our attention. In general though, I appreciated that they were succinct but showcased all the important information to broaden our awareness on the Indonesian public health.
Q: What was your favourite aspect about visiting Indonesia?
I am a huge traveller. I love learning about and immersing myself into new cultures. There were so many things I loved about visiting Indonesia but most prominently was just how friendly people were. Everyone was so willing to help out wherever we went, whether it be a restaurant, a temple, in a taxi, or even walking about on the streets.