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Our 2026 student leaders at WA medical schools introduce themselves

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ZARA DENOVAN

President, Curtin Association of Medical Students (CAMS)

As the CAMS President for 2026, it is a privilege to represent such a passionate, driven and diverse cohort of students. Alongside my team, I look forward to building on the strong foundations laid by those who pioneered before us.

This year, advocacy remains central to our work. Through ongoing collaboration with the Medical Student Council of WA (MSCWA), other medical societies, and the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA), we will continue to push for meaningful progress on issues affecting medical students. This includes advocating for means-tested paid clinical placements and working to alleviate the financial burden of unanticipated expenses, such as international selective placements.

Another key priority we would like to focus on this year is establishing a formal alumni network, with the aim of holding at least one alumni event. Our goal is to ensure Curtin medical students feel supported, connected and empowered, as they progress through their studies and into the medical workforce.

JESSICA WAIT

President, Medical Students’ Association of Notre Dame (MSAND)

As the 2026 President of MSAND, I am excited and honored to continue the work of prior teams to continually promote the cohesive community that the Notre Dame medical school in Fremantle is known for.

This year’s theme is ‘work hard, play hard’. We aim to empower students with their study through many educational events and resources, whilst centering our advocacy efforts on ways we can take a burden off students, especially in terms of placement poverty.

Alongside my brilliant team, we aim to continue providing the educational, social, and career-planning events that bring our cohorts together, while also revamping our equity, wellbeing and social justice events to bring more meaning and opportunities.

Finally, MSAND is continuing to work on growing our alumni network, and will be hosting our first mentoring event early this year. If you’re a Notre Dame Freo alumni and keen to stay up to date, please register on our website: msand.org.au/alumni/#register.

I am excited for a year of ongoing growth for MSAND and strengthening the inter-university relationships between the other medical societies and groups.

EVA QUATTRINI

Chair, Medical Student Council of WA (MSCWA)

This year I am very excited to be working with the MSCWA committee on ensuring the Western Australian medical student voice is listened to and looked after. This year our big focus is on establishing what our medical student community needs, and how the MSCWA can best serve this need.

As for previous councils, the issue of placement poverty is our top priority, and we will continue advocating for medical students to be included in the government’s placement payment scheme. We acknowledge, however, that this change can be slow and hope to work on ways to improve WA students’ circumstances this year.

The individual university medical student committees do an incredible job of supporting students. MSCWA this year aims to explore how it can best support students trying to enter medicine in WA, and how to support people for their internship and future planning.

I look forward to working with my Deputy Chair Mihan De Silva, students and colleagues this year. If you are interested in supporting medical students financially, through sharing knowledge and skills, or would like to discuss how you can be involved with us this year, we would love to hear from you! Message me at chair.mscwa@amawa.com.au.

PRISHA GOEL

President, Western Australian Medical Students Society (WAMSS)

WAMSS was established in 1946, notably predating the medical school it would later help bring into existence. Founded to advocate for a Western Australian medical school, at a time when students were required to travel interstate to complete their training, WAMSS reflects a longstanding tradition of student leadership and commitment to the profession in this State.

Today, that advocacy continues in a different form. WAMSS supports medical students through academic enrichment, wellbeing, professional development and community engagement, with the aim of fostering capable and compassionate future colleagues.

In 2026, we are committed to continuing this legacy. We are privileged to maintain a close and constructive working relationship with our Medical School Faculty – one we are dedicated to strengthening in the year ahead. Through this collaboration, we aim to ensure student feedback meaningfully informs curriculum design and clinical placement experiences.

We will continue delivering accessible academic initiatives, including free mock OSCEs across all year levels, to promote equity in preparation, and confidence in clinical practice.

Finally, we seek to address the financial pressures facing medical students at a university, state and federal level. We aim to implement practical support initiatives such as monthly free breakfast programs on campus and continue advocating with the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) for structural reform, including fair remuneration for clinical placements.

Central to our vision is a ‘bottom-up approach’. Junior students are the future of our organisation. By empowering these groups through early access to leadership, volunteering and mentorship opportunities, we hope to foster longitudinal connection from the outset. Through these mechanisms, we strengthen not only our society, but the interconnectivity in the profession we will soon join.

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Our 2026 student leaders at WA medical schools introduce themselves

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Our 2026 student leaders at WA medical schools introduce themselves

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