Empathy and Compassion: Australian Medical School Interview Questions

A time you helped someone through something difficult, what empathy means and how it differs from sympathy, the rude patient, the frightened patient, a person you admire. Scored on noticing and listening over fixing.

Updated 31 October 2026

How to answer

Specific: what the person was facing, what you noticed, what you did, what they needed that you did not expect. For the rude or frightened patient, listen first, look for what is behind it, address what you can, and do not say there is nothing to worry about.

Frameworks: EMP

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