Mako Amotou, a final-year medical student from Toyama University in Japan, has returned to South Australia for a three-week international elective placement with the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE).

Mako first visited South Australia during a two-week high school English immersion program in Adelaide, where she developed a deep appreciation for the country’s diverse culture, natural environment, and people. Her recent placement has offered her the opportunity to reconnect with the state that left such a lasting impression.

In the final week of her Australian placement, Mako spent some time at the Flinders University Rural and Remote Health campus in Renmark, where she engaged with local medical students and staff, sharing her admiration for the Australian lifestyle and environment.

Coming from a family of medical professionals—her father is an abdominal surgeon near Osaka—Mako’s interest in medicine was also shaped by personal experience. After caring for her mother through a period of severe anaemia, Mako was inspired by her mother’s encouragement to pursue a career in which she could help others. This experience, combined with her father’s example, led her to study medicine.

During her time with RACE, Mako embraced the opportunity to learn from clinicians and described her interactions with Flinders University Year 4 MD students as particularly enriching. “They have a good understanding of medicine and great opportunities to learn in small groups with experienced clinicians,” she said.

A highlight of her time in Australia was gaining insight into Aboriginal culture. Mako expressed a deep respect for the continuity and richness of Indigenous heritage, particularly after hearing Dreamtime stories and learning about the enduring connection Aboriginal peoples have with the land. “As well as the wonderful continuity of Aboriginal culture in Australia, I love that it is such a multicultural country and look forward to returning in the future,” she said.

Mako’s story is a testament to the impact of international collaboration in medical education and the enriching experiences offered by rural placements in South Australia.