Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is one organisation whose experience of such theatre goes beyond the evening news. Recently I had an opportunity to chat with Jenny Cross, Field Resources Officer with MSF for a Q&A of what life is really like for those who risk life and limb for their fellow man.

Jenny Cross, Field Resources Officer with Médecins Sans Frontières

I understand that you recruit doctors and nurses (as well as field support staff) to join Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). If we can focus on doctors for a moment - can you please give me a general profile of a doctor working in the 'field'?

Duties in the field for a doctor depend on the project and situation of the country. Generally doctors are involved in clinical activities, supervision, and training of national medical personnel, with some administrative duties. This is similar for other medical professions, like nurses, midwives, and other health specialists.

What qualifications and experience do they need to have? What about their psychological status (given the experiences they are likely to encounter).

Médecins Sans Frontières requires at least two years' professional experience post-graduation. The two-year minimum relates to the field position they would fill. Normally those qualified as specialists seek to work with Médecins Sans Frontières in the area of their specialty, in which case the requirement is for two years' experience in that specialty.

If a health workers wishes to join MSF, how long must they commit?

We find that people need at least nine months (particularly for their first time in the field) to contribute to the community they are working in and to gain just as much back for themselves. In the case of Surgeons and Anaesthetists the minimum duration of a placement can be much shorter (6 to 8 weeks) however, Finance / Administrative staff contracts can be longer (12 months). These different placement lengths correspond to the specific needs of the field and to the location where these staff are based.

A malnutrition emergency in the Central African Republic. Photograph - Masaya Noda.

What is the catalyst for MSF's involvement in humanitarian work? (Who makes the decision to send workers to a particular region/country?)

Médecins Sans Frontières medical teams will conduct an evaluation of medical needs on the ground before making a decision to open a program. It is only if the medical needs are not being met by the government of the country or by other organisations, that we will begin work. By its definition, humanitarian action saves lives and alleviates suffering of people caught in acute crises. In countries where we decide to work, one or more of the following crises is occurring: armed conflict, epidemics, exclusion from healthcare, malnutrition or natural disasters.

What are some of the (security and personal) risks involved with this work?

Many of the countries where our field staff is placed are enduring conflict, or are in post-conflict phase, and security therefore is often an issue. However, working with Médecins Sans Frontières is not reckless. Médecins Sans Frontières maintains extensive risk-management procedures and security guidelines for every project. Field workers are briefed on the country security situation before going to the field, and upon arriving at the project site are given specific security protocols. Adherence to our field guidelines for personal and team conduct and safety is not negotiable.

Has MSF suffered any casualties since its inception in 1971?

The nature of humanitarian work can at times be dangerous. Since the inception of Médecins Sans Frontières, the organisation has experienced a number of casualties, some accidental, some targeted. For example, in February this year, two of our staff were killed in Pakistan. Riaz Ahmad and Nasar Ali, both from Pakistan, were tragically killed on their day off. They had come into work as they had heard that there were large numbers of people wounded in the fighting who urgently needed assistance. Their ambulances, which were clearly identified as medical vehicles, came under fire. During the attack, another Médecins Sans Frontières worker was injured in the leg.

The Australian branch of MSF was formed in 1994. How many doctors/support staff have you committed to the 'field' in that time?

Since Médecins Sans Frontières opened its office in Sydney, more than 600 Australians and New Zealanders have fulfilled more than 1,200 positions in the field.

How is MSF funded?

Médecins Sans Frontières Australia accepts no funding from government sources. More than 30% of our activities are in armed conflict situations where our neutrality, impartiality and independence of political affiliation has enabled us to reach those who are most vulnerable and in need of humanitarian assistance.

There are other international branches of Médecins Sans Frontières who do accept a small amount of funding from their governments. Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK have all accepted government support in the past. The majority of our international funding comes from private sources - in 2008, private donations constituted 89.9% of our income. More than 3.7 million individual donors and private foundations made this possible.

Donate to Médecins Sans Frontières

Does the funding allow for the purchase of medicines and vital equipment or are the medical supplies donated? Can you give me a 'ball park' figure for the budget required for this humanitarian work?

Yes, the funding allows for the purchase of medicines and equipment. As a rule, we do not accept donations of medical equipment. All our supplies are shipped from operational bases in Europe in bulk where we save money by using a single storage and distribution centre. This approach also allows us to keep tight controls over the supplies and equipment we use.

The total income for Médecins Sans Frontières in 2008 was €675 million euros.

Consultation by one of our doctors with a child with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Photograph - Michael G Nielsen.

On a positive note, how is MSF changing the lives of people around the world?

The nature of Médecins Sans Frontières' work means our teams make a direct impact on millions of people. Our medical care means that millions each year receive treatment that they may not otherwise have been able to access - this could be a vaccination against meningitis, life-saving antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS, surgery for war wounds, treatment for cholera or simply, the safe delivery of a child. The work of Médecins Sans Frontières is vast - working in over 60 countries, our teams provide a variety of essential healthcare. Importantly, this healthcare is provided to our patients regardless of their race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

Can you tell my readers of a personal experience that touched your life in a significant way?

Hospitals and health clinics in less developed countries are amongst the most confronting places I've visited. I am in awe of health professionals who can adapt to working in these challenging environments that are so different to what they are used to back home. Médecins Sans Frontières' medical workers probably have many examples of making a difference, helping a patient, maybe even saving a life. I am not medical. My background is project management and my field experience is in HR, finance and administration. Payroll, visas and work permits, monthly accounts; it hardly compares to the crucial activities of my medical colleagues.

But my work is a necessary element of all Médecins Sans Frontières projects and has given me numerous positive experiences. Many of Médecins Sans Frontières' national staff have not had the educational or work opportunities we take for granted, and so a large part of our role is support, up-skilling and training. I have a lasting memory from my field placement in Sudan which, to me, captures a contribution 'non-medicals' can make. After weeks of explaining and demonstrating, then much practice of a particular administrative process by one of my team, the penny dropped so to speak. His face lit up with a huge smile as he realised he understood and could do this task by himself. "I am learning from you", he beamed at me. It is one of the most important things someone has ever said to me.

Ms Amanda Care - Director of Studies - SCEI

The Southern Cross Education Institute (SCEI) is a Registered Training Provider that meets both Federal and State Government educational standards. Boasting campuses across Australia, with marketing networks in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, SCEI is currently experiencing significant growth.

A highly respected name within the Australian adult education industry, the SCEI provide courses in Certificate III in ESL; Certificate IV in Business; Diploma of Business; Certificate III in Printing and Graphic Arts (Graphic pre-press); Diploma of Interactive Digital Media; and Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology, as well as a host of community services industries.

SCEI is fully compliant with the Australian Quality and Training Framework standards and also delivers nationally recognised training package qualifications taught by qualified trainers and teachers.

Making friends, discovering new cultures and being exposed to qualified staff who are dedicated to helping you achieve your desired outcome is the essence of the Southern Cross Education Institute.

If you would like more information about enrolments, course structure and fees or immigration requirements, I would encourage you to contact Ms Amanda Care, Director of Studies, at enroll@scei.com.au or visit www.scei.com.au

An education is what fortifies us against the challenges of our future.

Nepal's Annapurna region, nestled amongst the Himalayas, is one to consider when contemplating your next adventure holiday.

The first thing that strikes the weary traveller upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport of Nepal is the relaxed attitude of the locals. Friendly and eager to please, the Nepalese are well versed in English and provide a hospitality that is warm and welcoming to adventurers and tourists alike.

The next thing that strikes you is the dust - a facemask would not go astray.

The capital, Kathmandu, is a busy, bustling metropolis that harbours a people steeped in religious and traditional observation. Hindu and Buddhist architecture dominate the landscape, and yet somewhat surprisingly, are temples that allow worshipers the freedom to celebrate a variety of beliefs. A fact not lost on the casual observer when acknowledging the hospitality of the region's custodians.

Once through Immigration, there are two options for vehicular transport. Prepay a taxi service that one might suggest is government-controlled or haggle with the seemingly hundreds of cabs jostling for a fare.

Navigating the potholes of an unkempt road while endeavouring to avoid collision with the myriad of trucks, farm animals, and human traffic is but a sample of the ordered chaos unravelling itself along this most mystical of geographic hubs.

The majority of trekkers will congregate in the tourist precinct of Thamel, where you will find accommodation ranging from $5 - $150 a night; as well as dine on modern, western cuisine. Although, there is something to be said for the local delicacies, in particular the Dahl Bhat - a smorgasboard consisting of lentil soup (dahl) and rice (bhat) served with steam spinach and curried vegetables or curried meat for those who have not yet acquired the taste for a vegetarian lifestyle. If you are budget-conscious, seek out a Nepalese café, where you can dine with the locals and pay half the price for meals served at other tourist venues.

There are a number of touring packages available depending on your penchant for adventure. And these range from the 'tour group' experience, led by able guides eager to engage you with their repartee; to the equivalent of an Aussie outback adventure, where overnight stops are chosen among tea houses in villages dotted along the region's many trekking routes.

Kerri in Nepal with Everest in the background

Be advised, trekking in the Annapurna region requires a good level of fitness in order to sustain the 6 to 10 hour-a-day walks, negotiating a terrain that can best be described as undulating. In the Annapurna region there are 2 main treks - Annapurna Sanctuary or the Annapurna Circuit, each with its own unique appeal and invariable challenges. On either trail you will find yourself walking through rainforests that parallel thundering glacial rivers. You will observe the locals tending to their terraced hillside farms, while taking in the majestic views of snow-capped peaks of the highest mountain range the world has to offer.

Caravan Himalaya is a local tour company with the expertise to make your next adventure holiday the experience of a lifetime. On offer is a range of tour packages through Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan - which, as you might agree, are some of the most exotic places on Earth. For more information visit: www.caravanhimalaya.com

As with any adventure holiday, it is highly recommended that you do your research and plan for the unexpected. Read widely and consult extensively. And please be sure to see your GP for up-to-date tips on vaccinations and staying healthy.

My earliest memory of time spent bonding with my father was at the Bolton Football Club on the island of Mauritius; tuned to the wireless, mesmerised by the first in a trilogy of epic encounters between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.

I favoured Smokin Joe based solely on the instinct to judge my champions by their opponents.

Many an analogy has been written to humanise the Sweet Science. I subscribe to the notion that 'for all of its lies, boxing is about the truth.'

The truth, as I understand it, is an ethereal realisation that most of us are either running from or searching for – throughout our journey.

And so I welcome you to the first edition of It’s All About Me, magazine.

My aim is to produce stories that will entertain, educate and perhaps even inspire within my readers a greater level of awareness.

Some articles will feature the famous; most will not. Some articles will feature those who command respect in the environs of politics, entertainment and sport; most will not. The majority however will simply document the lives of ordinary men and women articulating their dreams, challenged by their fears, giving us an insight into triumph borne of nothing more than the courage to persevere.

I look forward to sharing their stories, and listening to your comments.

To my advertisers: Thank you! Nothing worthwhile has ever been achieved without vision. And with vision comes invariable risk.

Herve

The role of the Cabinet Secretary is not easily defined, suffice to say that information is power and power opens a lot of doors.

Educated at the University of Queensland or UQ as the locals refer to the century-old learning centre, Bronwen sought and found the freedom that most teenagers yearn. Reading books, absorbing poetry, listening to Rock n Roll music and having little care for the challenges of tomorrow dominated her youth.

Now, as a Mother of the two-year-old Angharad (a very old Welsh name meaning Well Loved), those carefree days may just be a distant memory. Despite reaching lofty heights in her professional career, the social embarrassment of having to deal with the tantrums of a two-year-old with a penchant for throwing herself on the ground in the middle of the road has Bronwen well focussed on her priorities.

Although she was quick to point out that the antics of daughter 'Harry' does run in the family. Nowadays Bronwen relies on parental advice from her Mother and a sister, who has four children of her own, to meet the challenges of motherhood.

I asked Bronwen what the difference was between a child throwing a tantrum and a politician with the same enthusiasm for getting their own way. Her answer led me to believe that a Cabinet Secretary's role rests with the ability to treat information and discussion confidential. Bronwen's success is largely due to her ability to immerse herself in the cut and thrust of policy whilst holding on tightly to the reigns of a very demanding role.

A savvy woman with her finger on the pulse of political action in Queensland, Bronwen is not easily pigeonholed. A feminist who thinks herself more of a humanist, she has strong views and beliefs about the role of men and women in society. 'I'm not one of those feminists who think that if women ran the world it would be a better place', nor does she believe that men 'have a monopoly on bad behaviour'. 'I don't think if women ran Parliament that Parliament would be better behaved … Parliament is about politics, it's not about gender'.

Bronwen has worked closely with the Premier in their previous working lives. Anna Bligh winning the State election was 'absolutely fantastic to see her do that'. That win, more than anything that has happened in Queensland of late 'normalises women in politics', according to Bronwen.

Perhaps like most politicians and a lot of public servants Bronwen views the media's role with healthy scepticism. The sense that the media is a shining white knight for the community does not sit well with our Cabinet Secretary. The relationship between those who would stand behind the microphone and those before it can be a volatile mix in this par-de-deux. The consequences for us who vote are the promises that ensue. 'Good decision-making can really suffer from the pressure to have decisions made too quickly.'

Apart from playing the odd game of netball, collecting Black Lady lamps from the Sixties and being a regular visitor to Brisbane plethora or flea markets and garage sales, Bronwen considers herself to be an uncomplicated woman who enjoys cooking complicated meals.

Who knows, perhaps when the Sun sets on her career as Cabinet Secretary, Bronwen may yet become our very own Nigella Lawson.

In one of her most recent, in a long list of stellar (if you pardon the pun) performances, Rachael undertakes the journey that is Blanche DuBois in Francois Klaus’ adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ immortal classic – A Streetcar Named Desire.

This artist who describes the stage as her ‘home’, is indeed a talent to behold.

The decision to dance for herself rather than aspire to the expectations of a profession was the catalyst for growth and ultimate self-belief.

According to the artist herself, “I think it was in a performance of Giselle when I first felt that. It was a big role … I was so nervous about it … and that’s when I knew it was actually right for me to be here.”

For the uninitiated, the role of Giselle is cavorted by ballerinas worldwide because it demands a technique bordering on perfection, astonishing grace and a great sense for the theatrical.

You will, of course, be familiar with the name Michael Jordan. His many feats, much documented, were often displayed whilst encapsulated within the so-called ‘zone’ of athletic prowess. It was this imagery of perfection that entered my mind as I listened to Rachel describe dance as the ability to reveal the drama of many lives lived in one lifetime.

Where there is great risk, more often than not, there is also great reward.

The risk for a dancer who strives for perfection, is invariably, injury. Injuries are often the precursor to surgery followed by months of rehabilitation.

Rachael has not been immune. But then there is a moment, and that moment may be fleeting, when an artist understands the significance of the spotlight and that it is shining on them for a reason.

At the conclusion of our interview I asked Rachel to finish this sentence … It’s all about me, it’s my time to … to which she responded ‘be real’. ‘To be even more brave in life … to be really ugly as well as portray something beautiful in life … being really honest … be honest on stage … that’s my goal”.

Rachael is currently touring A Midsummer Night’s Dream throughout regional Queensland, playing the lead role of Titania/Hippolyta.
For more details please visit www.queenslandballet.com.au