Student Spotlight: Valerie Yung’s Passion for Rural Health

After receiving a $2,000 student stipend, Valerie attended the 18th National Rural Health Conference in Adelaide, joining health professionals and students from across Australia. She finished the three-day conference on a high, taking to the stage to speak to more than 800 delegates about her experiences in rural dental clinics and university outreach programs.

Valerie shared her reflections from the conference

For Valerie, the conference highlighted both the challenges facing rural healthcare and the many people working to make a difference.

One particularly memorable presentation came from Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who compared astronaut health with rural health. Both can involve limited access to care, workforce shortages and considerable distances to specialist services, although the commute from space is admittedly a little longer!
Another observation was the limited representation of dentistry. Among hundreds of presentations spanning medicine, nursing, and allied health, just two focused on dentistry. At the same time, Valerie saw clear recognition among other health professionals of how important access to dental care is for their rural patients.

Valerie’s pathway to getting involved

Valerie’s passion for rural health has grown throughout dental school. Through the Adelaide University Rural Health Alliance (AURHA), she has served as Vice President, Events Officer and Dental Representative, helping organise activities for students across a range of health disciplines.

She has also travelled to communities including Ceduna, Port Augusta, the Eyre Peninsula, Riverland, Murray Bridge and the Yalata Aboriginal Community, gaining experience through dental shadowing, school visits and oral health promotion.
 
Her involvement has also taken her interstate, including attending the National Rural Health Students Network Council conference in Melbourne alongside 50 rural health student leaders from across Australia.
 
One initiative Valerie is particularly proud of is the annual Riverland Outreach Trip, launched through a collaboration between AURHA and the Adelaide Dental School in 2024. Each year, six dental and two oral health students spend three days in Berri and Loxton promoting dental study pathways to rural high school students.
 
ADA SA is proud to share stories like Valerie’s, which highlight the enthusiasm and commitment young dental professionals have. They serve as a wonderful reminder that the future of dentistry is in very capable hands.