University Centre for Rural Health Lismore welcomes UOW Students
In July this year, 21 University of Wollongong (UOW) third year students began their longitudinal 12 month placement in our region. They will be living, studying and learning across the North Coast University Centre for Rural Health (UCRH) footprint of Murwillumbah, Lismore and Grafton.
These students are placed in hospitals across our Local Health District and in General Practices, where they will have access to patients from the local hospitals and community health settings. The GP placement will allow students to experience continuity of care for their patients and provide a range of opportunities in acute medicine, chronic care, interdisciplinary learning and population health.
Orientation week enabled the students to participate in NAIDOC celebrations and spend time with the UCRH Aboriginal Education Team, Emma Walke and Darlene Rotumah. Students were also able to participate in a number of activites at the South Cross University NAIDOC celebrations.
During the next 12 months these students will develop their clinical competence and come to better understand what it means to practice medicine in our community.
UOW first year students visit the region
The UOW Rural taster provides a scholarship based opportunity for first year UOW medical students to experience the challenges and diversity of healthcare systems in rural communities. These 6 students have been living and learning in our region recently. They have been to Ballina Hospital, Kyogle/Ballina/Casino/Lismore community health centres and Bullinah AMS. During these placements students perform basic patient care activities such as recording and monitoring vital signs, assist with assessments such as safety in the home.
Comments from the students:
Thanks for having us up at Ballina/Lismore and surrounds! I really enjoyed the stay! Ballina ED was most definitely my favourite of all.
Thank you so much we have all had an amazing time! Thanks for facilitating such a great placement for us. You can bet we will be applying to come back for our 12 month clinical placement in Phase 3!
UOW Medical students abroad
As part of their 4th year of training UOW medical students do a clinical elective to broaden their experience before graduation. Some choose an overseas placement.
Aiasha Saikal and Trish Griffiths (pictured), who spent their final year in Goonellabah and Mudgee respectively, have recently spent a challenging time at the very large Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Here they saw lots of major trauma with stabbings, gunshot wounds and full thickness burns. It was overwhelming at times hearing the stories and seeing just how much suffering these patients endured. However they appreciated the experience and gained a lot of procedural skill including the insertion of chest drains.
Following this demanding clinical experience they were pleased to then be able to relax on safari in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.
