More than 100 first-year medical students from the University of Tasmania’s School of Health Science in Hobart will get their first taste of what it would be like to be a rural doctor when they travel to the north and north-west of the State this week for the Year 1 Regional Communities Program, also known to students as Rural Week.
Breaking up into groups, they will rotate through a series of activities and excursions each day that will not only demonstrate what it’s like to live and work in a rural area, but also how this might impact on health and access to health services.
The students will be based at Camp Clayton at Ulverstone, and visit numerous North-West facilities throughout the week, including the Mersey Community and North-West Regional Hospitals, University of Tasmania Rural Clinical School and Cradle Coast Campus, TasTAFE farm and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre in Launceston and University of Tasmania Launceston Clinical School.
At the hospitals they will observe the outpatients, day surgery, Department of Emergency Medicine, medical ward, orthopedics, radiology, pathology, surgical wards, maternity and obstetrics and gynecology (in a private hospital).
University of Tasmania Rural Clinical School co-director Associate Professor Lizzie Shires said that students spend the first three years of their five-year medical degree in Hobart studying basic medical sciences, but it is important that they gain an understanding of the benefits and challenges that living in a rural area present – both from a personal and professional point of view.
“For many of the first-year students, Rural Week is the first time they have been to the North-West Coast, and the first time they have been in a clinical setting.
“We hope that by introducing them to rural life early in their careers, they may choose to return for their fourth and fifth year medical training – and then potentially stay on as junior doctors.”
“Our current year four and five students have told us that visiting the hospitals and observing clinical settings and patient interactions was the highlight of Rural Week for them during year one, and that it does impact on their decisions when choosing locations to work at towards the end of their degree.”
The students began Rural Week with a lunch at Narawrantapu National Park today and some fun team-building challenges.
BURNIE:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am-4.30pm – Groups to meet with RCS co-director Associate Professor Lizzie Shires and tour the Rural Clinical School, Brickport Rd, Burnie.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, morning 10am-11.30am groups to tour the TAFE Freer Farm and review farm OH&S. Location is 182-206 Mooreville Rd, Burnie. Contact Tues. and Wed. Kristen Fitzgerald 0417 356 441 and Thurs. Maureen Davey 0409 782 541.
ULVERSTONE:
Tuesday, Wednesday 9am-5pm and Thursday 12.30-3.30pm – Activities at Camp Clayton, 41 Clayton Rd, Ulverstone. Medical bush scenarios (recommended for photos) 9am-12noon. Contact Lynn Grieves 0434 533 303. Team building activities 1pm-5pm. Contact: Kellie Twining 0418 437 136 or Anne-Maree Temple 0408 879 726.
LAUNCESTON:
FRIDAY 10am-3pm Visit to Launceston Clinical School, Level 2, Northern Area Health Service building, Launceston General Hospital (entry via Frankland St). Students will be undertaking some clinical skills practice (cannulation, blood pressure etc.) as well as completing an “Amazing Race” where they have to complete medically-based challenges before getting the next clue. Races take place 10.15am-12 noon and 12.45-2.30pm.
University of Tasmania, Communications and Media Office
