Gill Weston
Gill was born and raised in Liverpool in the UK and after graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies, went on to work in the voluntary sector on a range of community-based environmental programs. While working on a program to enhance school grounds for both the environment and for the health of the whole school community, Gill began to develop an interest in public health.
In 2007 after gaining further practical experience on a project that linked health with the environment, Gill decided to ‘take the plunge' into public health through study. She enrolled as an international student at Flinders University. Not sure that she had the capability to do a Masters, especially as she had not studied for fourteen years, Gill decided to do a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care, and arrived in Adelaide in February 2006.
Over the next year Gill was delighted to realise that she was able to make the grades, she was enjoying learning and that Adelaide was a fine place to live! Following completion of the Diploma, Gill returned as a permanent resident in March 2007 and decided to continue with her studies. In July she was appointed as a project officer with Southern Adelaide Health Services and completed a Masters in Public Health while also working full-time.
Gill has found that her study at Flinders University has helped her professional development through the gaining of valuable knowledge around public health issues and theory, and in the development of skills such as critical thinking. She is using these skills and the experiences gained directly from the course, and indirectly via other students from around the world, in her practice at Southern Adelaide Health Services.