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Transcript of 744399
COOEE! October 2008
I n t h i s I s s u e :t
he
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re
of
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• Rural Health Club Reports
• Members Story
• Indigenous Festivals
• Working Parties
• Placement Reports
• NRHSN Alumni Interviews
• Portfolio Reports
• Quiz and Photo Competition
• Conferences of National Significance
2008 Co-Chair Report
NRHSN Members at the Coonamble NSW Vibe Alive Festival
Photo: Courtesy of Shannon Nott
Welcome to another edition of Cooee – the biannual newsletter of the NRHSN. When we applied and took over
as the Co-Chairs in early 2008, we knew we were going to be
busy. Little did we actually know how busy it will be!
However, our ever constant workload has also been a
constant source of inspiration to both of us and a privilege.
We are truly blessed to have a fantastic group of over
7000 students with an interest in rural health; a wonderful
council; an incredible and active group of portfolio holders;
a hardworking and dedicated team of staff members; and a
passionate Executive Team.
Since the last Cooee, a lot has changed for the Network.
We’ve changed our name to the National Rural Health
Students’ Network (NRHSN) to better reflect our core role
of representing students. We also welcome three new
clubs – AWAIRH at La Trobe University Wodonga campus,
ROUNDS at the University of Notre Dame Sydney campus,
and HOPE4HEALTH at Griffith University. This brings our total
membership to 28 clubs from around Australia covering all
health disciplines – a truly fantastic achievement given the
network started 13 years ago with just 100 medical students.
We are, however, saddened to learn of Litsa Kane’s
resignation as Executive Officer of the NRHSN. Since her
time with the NRHSN (and the NRHN) since 2005, she has
seen and guided the Network from just 18 clubs with 4000
members to 28 clubs with over 7000 members. She has
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
2008 Co-Chair Report
Welcometo Cooee!...Continued from page 1
The National Rural Health Students’
Network is supported by financial
assistance from the
Australian Government.
weathered through four exec teams (2005
– Jane Barton, Melissa Flint and Joseph Turner;
2006 – Angela Titmuss, Craig Smith and Nick
Moore; 2007 – Nick Moore, Claire Seiffert and
Felix Ho; and 2008 – Felix Ho, Shannon Nott
and Fiona Langelaan), the Nous report of 2005,
a major expansion of staff numbers, change of
office, three logo changes (NRHN, NRHSN and
RHWA), two name changes (NRHN to NRHSN,
ARRWAG to RHWA), two successful conferences
(2007 NRHN Forum, 2008 10th NURHC),
multiple budgets, multiple launches (When
the Cowpat Hits the Windmill, Placements
Guide, RHSV Kit, Wide Horizons DVD, Policy &
Procedures Guide, Induction Kit, Placements
Guide) while simultaneous working as the
Executive Officer of the NRHSN AND Operations
Manager for RHWA, and this is just the stuff
that we hear about! We will miss her dearly
and wish you all the best for the upcoming
birth of your first child!!
However, we are delighted to introduce two
new staff members to the NRHSN team.
Amanda Hall joins the team as our new
National Program Manager. Amanda has
extensive experience in the fields of human
movement, the fitness industry and program
management. We also welcome Jane Jamieson,
our new Project Support Officer. With an
extensive administrative background, Jane
is responsible for the successful Conferences
of National Significance (CoNS) program,
management of the 11th NURHC proposal,
contact lists and this Cooee! newsletter.
Amanda and Jane, a very warm welcome to
the NRHSN!
Congratulations to the clubs involved in the
Wakakirri, Deadly Days and Vibe Alive, NAIDOC
and Ti-Tree Indigenous Festivals. Indigenous
Festivals aim to inspire primary and secondary
school aged students to be “Strong, Smart and
Deadly” through participation in workshops
involving health, music, story-telling,
education, and the celebration of culture and
sport. The NRHSN has maintained our national
representation through participation in all
indigenous festivals through the year. A special
thank you to the club organisers and the
festival coordinators.
By the time this edition goes to print, a new
Executive Team would be elected and the role
of the council will be expanded. We wish the
2009 Executive Team and Council the very best
in their terms!
Lastly, thank you to you – our members,
stakeholders and readers – for your continued
support of the NRHSN. The Network is here
for you so please let the NRHSN team and
your Rural Health Club know if we could be of
assistance. Please feel free to contact us at any
time. We look forward to hearing and sharing
your stories.
We hope you enjoy this edition of Cooee!
Felix Ho and Shannon Nott
2008 NRHSN Co-Chairs
Get Connected! Editorial
NRHSN & Rural Health Workforce Australia
Dr Kim Webber, CEO
Out the back of Bourke!
It has been quite an eventful year in rural
health! There is no doubt that there are
numerous programs funded by the government
that are designed to increase the health
workforce in rural and remote Australia. When
all is said and done, we are working hard to
ensure that these programs will influence not
just the intentions, but the actions of health
professionals. The million dollar question for
us is: Will an appreciation for our rural and
remote health challenges really result in an
increase in the number of health graduates
who choose to relocate to these areas and put
their skills to use for those who need it most?
The establishment of the Office of Rural
Health in July has brought together key areas
from across the Department of Health and
Ageing with responsibilities in rural health
policy, programs and workforce distribution
and highlights these as a priority for the
Government.
Following the recent Audit of Health Workforce
in Rural and Regional Australia, we are now
in a period of evaluation of existing programs
that support rural health professionals
and communities, as well as the degree
of investment in rural and regional health
services. More than ever we need to take
advantage of the opportunities that we have
to drive reform with regard to policy and the
incentives currently offered in the rural health
sector.
As students, you are the voice of the future
health workforce, and with over 7000
members based at 28 Rural Health Clubs
around the country, that voice is getting louder!
Your submission to the National Health and
Hospital Reform Commission made very clear
the environment, conditions and expectations
that you, as the future health workforce, need
in place to support you in working in the bush.
The student view is eagerly sought by those
who make decisions about where energy,
money and time are best directed. I encourage
you to be there when the questions are
asked, to let the government know what your
experiences are and what the many health
disciplines need in order to work together
effectively - “Out the back of Bourke”.
All the best to you as you move in to exams
and complete your studies for 2008 and I look
forward to a positive and progressive year for
rural health in 2009.
Rural Health Workforce Australia
Kim Webber – CEO
Litsa Kane – Operations Manager
Mandy Leveratt – Senior Policy Officer
Jeremy Maddox – Data Analyst
Linda O’Meara – Finance Manager
Estilita Vaz – Administration & Executive Assistant
National Rural Health Students’ Network Staff
Amanda Hall – National Program Manager
Linda Nink – Senior Project Officer
Kerryn Eccleston – Project Officer
Jane Jamieson – Project Support Officer
Well, not only has our network of clubs and
students continued to grow, but so too has
our team of staff! With Litsa taking a step
back from the ever energetic network as
she prepares for motherhood, we welcome
Amanda Hall as our new National Program
Manager. With day 1 at the Council Face-to-
Face in September, she has launched straight
into NRHSN life and is looking forward to
getting to know each of the clubs. Linda and
Kerryn continue their ongoing support of the
network with much knowledge and experience
with the network, and an unending enjoyment
of the student happenings around the country.
Jane had also made a dedicated and passionate
addition to the team, having already
participated in the recent Rural Appreciation
Weekend and Deadly Days Festival and has
even showcased her barn dancing skills!
This edition of Cooee! is jam packed with
experiences, events, resources and projects
that epitomise the energy that NRHSN
members have for rural health!
The 2008 Indigenous Festivals have so far
been a delight for the senses, inspiring school
children and health students alike amongst the
sights and sounds of remote Australia - with
6 more festivals this year through October
and November. Our Working Parties are
busy with a number of exciting projects all of
which will take the impact that we make as
an organisation to the next level - including
gearing up for a huge NURHC in 2009! Reports
streaming in from the many recipients of
funding for Conferences of National Significance
show how NRHSN representation at these
events can help us promote the student voice
and continue to push for what the future
of health needs in the workplace. Rural
placement stories abound and word from
NRHSN Alumni shows us how important
networks like ours are for keeping remote
Health Professionals connected. Our Portfolio
Holders and Representatives from our partner
organisations continue to drive our initiatives
forward from their unique perspectives and
ensure that we learn how best to bring
the needs of each of the health disciplines
together.
The defining characteristic of a true network
is the capacity to create links and connections
that are mutually beneficial. This issue
of Cooee! gives quite a snapshot of the
relationships that you are continuing to
strengthen with others who share your passion
for rural health and is a credit to your ability
to reach out and communicate. We hope you
enjoy your newsletter – let us know what you
think!
Linda, Kerryn, Jane and Amanda
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
NRHSN Website
www.nrhsn.org.au
Rural High School Visits
www.nrhsn-rhsv.org.au
Our Members Matt Cane, Pharmacy
Rustica President & NAPSA Rep on NRHSN Council
NRHSN/AMSA Bursaries
Wow, since the April edition of Cooee! the NRHSN website has received
138,317 page views! Members can go to www.nrhsn.org.au for
information about scholarships (currently being updated by the
scholarships and placements working party) and Indigenous Festivals,
apply for CoNS and even download an electronic copy of past and current
editions of Cooee!
Each Rural Health Club (RHC) has their own page which is updated by their
club executive, so you can also find out what is happening at your club.
Upcoming Events is a new feature that allows RHCs to upload the
information about events that are coming up, and are a great opportunity
to invite members from other RHC’s to come along, or for you to get ideas
about events that your club can run. You are also encouraged to send
through reports and photos on events that you have held to help inspire
other clubs.
Indigenous Health Essays Allied Health/Nursing Joni Nissen, TROHPIQ
Medical Jonathon Epstein
Rural Placement Bursaries Allied Health Brooke Saunders, AURHA
Nursing Sally Grainger, TEHC
Medical Jodie Delanty , Rustica &
Geordon Shannon, BREAATHHE
The NRHSN teamed up with AMSA in 2008 to offer $1,000 bursaries to Allied Health,
Nursing and Medical students to undertake a rural elective and also $1,000 prize for an essay
on Indigenous Health. The NRHSN and AMSA are very pleased to announce that
Joni, Jonathon, Sally,Brooke, Josie & Geordon have been granted the relevant awards.
You can find the winning essays on the NRHSN website at www.nrhsn.org.au/go/bursary,
along with some of the other entries. Brooke, Sally, Jodie and Geordon will write reports on
their placements to be held by July 2009, and reports will be available on the NRHSN website
as they become available.
Matt can almost be described as a one man multi-D team! As an ambo
(still working 20 hours per week on top of study), qualified nurse,
experience with the RFDS and current pharmacy student and a true
passion for rural and remote health, he certainly sums up the spirit of
the NRHSN. Joining Rustica with the promise of a free t-shirt, Matt has
increased the profile of allied health disciplines within his club, as well as
becoming “more and more interested in rural health”.
NURHC 08 provided him with the opportunity to have his best and worst
RHC/NRHSN experiences! As co-convenor of NURHC 08, Launceston,
Matt was able to “showcase Launceston to the rest of the country” while
the Golden Windmills performance night saw Matt and his Rustica team
‘gonged’ off the stage - by a fellow Tasmanian no less - half way through
their less than successful performance of Ebony and Ivory, collecting the
evening’s wooden spoon along the way!
Other than health, Matt’s passion is travel and meeting people, which is
fortunate with the amount that of travel Matt has done so far with his
studies and the NRHSN. Luckily for us, he is color blind, or else we may
have missed out with his first career choice being a pilot.
In five years time, Matt can picture himself (with his wife and son
who hardly get to see him in between all of his commitments at
the moment!) as an ambulance station officer in a rural town while
completing locum pharmacy work. Where? Undecided at the moment,
his wife will certainly also get a say but King Island, where he undertook
a pharmacy placement, has been a highlight so far - with the cheese,
beef and fresh air and the fact that the “pharmacy opens at 9.30am and
closes for lunch hour” - could be a possibility.
Matt’s advice to health students is - “If you think rural - don’t think
Hicksville rural doesn’t mean small, without facilities. Give it a go - it will
be surprising!” And for those of you who are suffering from a need of a
different work environment - “you don’t need to change careers, a rural
location can provide the challenge you need”.
All Clubs should have received the new and improved Rural High School
Visits (RHSV) Kit earlier this year. This is a great resource to help you with
ideas and activities in preparation for your next RHSV.
The new RHSV website is also up and running and hopefully you have all
had a chance to check it out! The website shows where RHCs have visited
and where they will be visiting soon. This can be a great opportunity to
get ideas and maybe even join in with another Club’s RHSV. There are
many reports and stories from RHC members and high school students, so
log on and have a read.
Keep your Clubs RHSVs up to date by logging on and entering an event
or emailing details. We are always looking for suggestions and ideas
on ways to improve and expand the RHSV program so feel free to get in
contact with us and send your ideas through to [email protected]. Vibe Alive,
Coonamble NSW
Vibe Alive,Coonamble NSW
“The kids had a great deal of fun as did many
of the teachers; it was great to be able to promote the health of these little ones and also
encourage them to consider jobs in the health industry. At the end of the day the school was
very impressed and keen to have us back for even longer next time!”
Dianne Thorp (CARAH), Wakakirri Festival Yuendumu, NT
Indigenous FestivalsThe NRHSN at Wakakirri, Vibe Alive, Deadly Days, NAIDOC & Ti-Tree Festivals
NAIDOC Festival, Broome WA
Vibe Alive, Coonamble NSW
Vibe Alive,
Port Augusta SA
Wakakirri Festival,Bloomfield River Region QLDNAIDOC Festival,
Broome WA
Vibe Alive,
Coonamble NSW
“We were able to talk to the kids about all different health careers and get them thinking about
how there’s lots of different health care professionals – not just doctors and nurses – and how
they all work together to help patients.”Teesha Downton (SHARP) Vibe Alive Coonamble, NSW
So far... Vibe Alive (Coonamble NSW & Port Augusta SA), Wakakirri (Yuendumu NT, Bloomfield River Region
& Cunamulla QLD), NAIDOC (Broome WA). Now happening.... Vibe Alive (Kalgoorlie WA, Mildura VIC &
Rockhampton QLD), Deadly Days (Wollongbar, Coffs Harbour & Taree NSW), Ti-Tree (Alice Springs NT)
Vibe Alive,Coonamble NSW
“The days went really quickly
and all the student volunteers did an amazing job
keeping up with the mobs of kids that came through
the tents. The kids were really enthusiastic and
participated with much excitement in all activities.”
Gabby Diplock (FURHS) Vibe
Alive Port Augusta, SA
Wakakirri Festival,Yuendumu NT
Wakakirri Festival,
Bloomfield River Region QLD
“We joined the throng of locals and tourists huddling around the tables packed
full of the roasted local flora and fauna as we listened to a brief talk on Aboriginal bush tucker.
Cooked in the traditional methods were dishes of acacia seed duck, roasted bush turkey, boiled
camel tail, bush damper, satay kangaroo and lobster. It only took a glance at it all to decide that
perhaps ‘tasting’ was an understatement... definitely a memorable cultural experience for us all!”
Samantha Johnson (MARHS) NAIDOC Festival, Broome, WA
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
NURHC 09 Amanda Hall
The National Membership Database Working
Party has made good progress over the last
few months.
Thanks to the feedback on the membership
form, we have been able to devise a more
generalised form that will suit most clubs.
NRHSN is awaiting funding approval and will be
seeking 3 clubs - an old, new and in between
to participate in the pilot. The working party
will be requesting feedback on the alumni
database and reports. A pilot scheme will be
phased in as follows:
Phase 1
Generic membership form with database
Simple administrative facilities including
email distribution lists, adding/editing/
removing members
Club’s demographic report generators
Separate alumni database
Phase 2
Adding further functionality based on
feedback from Phase 1
Phase 3
E-business model for payments
Any other interested members can forward
their details to [email protected].
Membership Database Josh Crase
Cultural Awareness Shannon Nott
Scholarship & Placements Luke Smith
In past editions of Cooee! we have heard many
stories from past members of the NRHSN about
their adventures… but there are so many more
out there with whom we have lost contact.
As a result of this growing number of people,
an alumni working party has been formed
to develop and expand an NRHSN Alumni, in
order for past members to stay in touch with us
and each other.It is envisaged that a database
will be developed to include Alumni members
details such as their past club affliliation,
university and course studied, their current
employer, their role, and if they are willing or
able to take students for elective placements.
Through this we are hoping to reconnect past
members of the NRHSN (NRHN), and inspire
current students who may be considering a
placement or job in a rural or remote area.
At present we are working to expand our
membership, through an online form and
through a newly-formed Facebook group. So, if
you are a past member of the NRHSN (or your
Rural Health Club) or you know someone who
is, please visit the NRHSN website and join the
Alumni today!
NRHSN Alumni Kate GrayThe Cultural Awareness Working Party has aims
to create a resource to begin the education
of students going on Indigenous community
placements or those interested in Indigenous
culture. The aim is to create resources, in
conjunction with Indigenous peak bodies and
community controlled health organisations
that will promote cross-cultural training and
cultural safety.
As many of you know Indigenous culture
cannot be defined by a universal definition. It
is dynamic and diverse, changing from state
to state and region to region. Thus, it has
been decided to create two resources that
will better reflect our outcomes. These two
resources are: A cross-cultural training guide
A cross-cultural website
The training guide is the working party’s
current project. It aims to be a starting
reference, but not a definitive resource, with
generic information on Indigenous culture as
well as directing students to places that they
can find more information.
If you’re interested in Indigenous health or
have any suggestions please email Shannon
Nott [email protected].
The Scholarships and Placements Working
Party aims to investigate the availability of
scholarships and placement opportunities for
various health disciplines across Australia,
hoping to create a database using this
information. The data collected will also be
used to lobby organisations to create further
scholarship and placements in areas of need.
The working party is currently compiling a
list of holders of these scholarships, prizes,
bursaries and cadetships are strongly
encouraged to help us by providing information
to the working party on the terms of their
scholarship.
Further information on becoming involved with
the working party or submitting scholarship
information is available from
Luke Smith ([email protected]) or Felix Ho
Following the success of NURHC this year, the
clubs who have made a bid to host our 2009
conference have big shoes to fill - and we have
had some very enthusiastic and passionate
expressions of interest! Though we may not
yet know exactly where the conference will be
held, we are well aware of what we want it to
include and will soon be creating a sponsorship
prospectus that will be used to gain support
for involvement from sponsors and guest
speakers. Our aim is to create an academic
program that will be as unique as our network in
its focus on the multi-disciplinary challenges and
opportunities that working in the bush presents.
We will pursue speakers that can guide and
inspire you as the future of rural health. We will
use the Conference as an opportunity to further
raise the profile of the network and the work
you all do so tirelessly in preparing the rural
health sector, and each other, for life after your
graduate.
Our working party would love to have your
ideas or experiences from conferences you
have attended through the very successful
CoNS program to help us make this an event to
remember! Please email [email protected].
Working Parties
Conferences of National Significance Funding (CoNS)
Quiz! An open book exam
1. How many Indigenous Festivals will the NRHSN have been involved in this year through the Rural Health Clubs?
2. Which state or territory only has one Rural Health Club?
3. When was the NRHSN (NRHN) established?
4. Who won the NRHSN Bursary for a nursing placement?
5. Which RHC organised a Cross Cultural Awareness Weekend in 2008?
6. What significant event which happened to the 6th NURHC in 2001?
7 How many RHCs are there in NSW?
8. In which state is the NRHSN/Rural Health Workforce Australia office based?
9. What is the name of the recent NRHSN DVD promoting Rural Clinical Placements?
10. How many page views has the NRHSN website received since the April edition of Cooee!?
Answers on the back cover.
It’s been a record breaking year for successful CoNS funding applications
to the NRHSN. We’ve funded 64 students delegates to 19 different
conferences across Australia, from Adelaide to Yeppoon, Queensland.
The NRHSN and the RHC (Rural Health Clubs) have been represented by
a wide range of health disciplines; 26 from Medicine, 9 Nursing and 29
Allied Health. 18 of the RHC’s got on board the program.
We have an increasing number of students presenting at conferences and
this is very favourably considered when reviewing applications.
We are about to update the list of approved conferences . The criteria
for consideration is predominantly rural/remote health content with a
national significance(as opposed to state or international). Please send
us information and recommendations for additions and removals to
The CRANA (Council of Remote Area Nurses Australia) 26th National
Conference announced the eiight CRANA/NAA ( Nursing Agency
Australia) scholarships to assist students with their work placements.
Congratulations go to Lillian Duthie, Sally Grainger, Lisa Jones, Kathleen
O’Keefe, Barry Horn, Rebecca Mc Lellan, Maggie O’Sullivan and Peter
Westcoast.
The delegates Conference Reports often make inspirational reading and
perform a valuable research tool when deciding on the most appropriate
conference. Here are some excerpts................
Agatha Williams, Nursing student, SHARP, attended the CRANA 26th
National Conference. “The entire conference opened my eyes to what
it takes to be a remote area nurse. RAN’s have finely tuned skills and
really are the unsung heroes of remote Australia. CRANA encourages its
nurses to expanded their knowledge and discuss how they can better
their practice. “
Renae Strugnell, Occupational Therapy Student, ROUSTAH was one
of the many students attending the SARRAH Conference.
“...this was a fantastic opportunity to truly grasp the realities of
working as an Allied Health Professional in a rural setting. I was so
pleased to be surrounded by like minded people both professionals
and students who are all passionate about making a difference
to the lives of people in rural areas! Networking was also a key
element to the Conference especially the dinner, having met many
professionals from around the Nation whom our member’s even
received job offers! I would encourage all students’ to get involved
and attend as many conferences as possible such a fun experience!
Wendy Henderson, Medical Student, RUSTICA, attended the SWAN XVI
Trauma Conference in Sydney had this to report.
I feel that this conference has significantly contributed to my knowledge
of rural health issues and enthusiasm for rural practice in my aspired
speciality area; Emergency medicine. It was very valuable from the
point of view that I got to capture a solid overview of emergency/
trauma services and how these are organised & run Australia wide.”
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
Postcards from the North Three members write from the ‘Top End’ about their amazing placements experiences. Their full reports are at www.nrhsn.org.au/go/placements.
Jacinta Spry 4th year Flinders Medical Student and her partner, ventured From Arnhem Land
to Alice Springs as part of her six month rural stream offered to fourth year Flinders medical
students. “Nhulunbuy is a remote, vibrant and welcoming township of 4,000 people on the
northeast coast of Arnhem Land It is the hub of a number of medical and other services that
support eight other major Aboriginal communities, and many more homelands and outstations
in the area. If you have a passion for remote and Indigenous health, but still enjoy the comforts
and support of living in a town, it’s a great place to be.
The Yolngu people of East Arnhem have a fascinating life, law and language. It’s been a really
amazing experience to go with Yolngu families hunting, fishing, walking and gathering bark for
painting.It’s been fascinating to listen to their stories...
A diverse learning environment suited me and there were lots of opportunity to create my own
experience and timetable. These included working in town at Wiwatj Aboriginal Health Service
and going to remote bush clinics in the homelands with Layhnapuy Health. Working on the
wards, emergency or in clinics with visiting specialisits at Gove District Hospital and participating
in aero-medical retrievals. Alternatively I could choose to fly out to large communities like
Milingimbi or Ramingining with the Mental Health Team or District Medical Officers. I feel very
lucky to have wonderful experiences while still studying. The aim is to have such a good time
as a student that we might come back one day – it’s working!”
Nick Knowles (BNurs, MPH, MPharm), formerly a member of CRANC now a Graduate
Pharmacist, writes “I have called my clinical placement in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, a
‘true Australian pharmacy experience’ before I arrived there, I thought I knew what pharmacy in
Australia was all about. I had experienced pharmacy in NSW and the ACT and thought that I had
things pretty well covered. My time in the East Arnhem Land made me realise that pharmacy in
Australia has much more to offer than most of us expect.... The most confronting challenge was
language. For the Yolngu people of East Arnhem Land, English is not so much a second language
as a foreign language.
Pharmacists need to ensure a consistent high quality supply of medicines and pharmacy-
related products to remote communities. Providing education and information to residents and
health workers in remote communities is a massive challenge. If you are the only community
pharmacist in Arnhem Land, how do you get out to all of the remote communities and keep
your shop open? There is plenty of room for smart innovation and self-directed initiative. To
suceed in remote Australia, you must develop a positive rapport with the community, if you are
willing to have a crack & chance your arm, opportunities will open up for you.”
Kate Gray recently completed a 5-week placement as part of her final year of her physiotherapy
course, in Derby a couple of hours north-east of Broome in the West Kimberley. The allied health
team is based at Derby Hospital, and also services the town of Fitzroy Crossing, stations and
communities in the region.
“A typical day for me involved spending the morning on the ward at the hospital, assessing and
treating everything from pneumonias and COPD exacerbations to patients for rehab post CVA,
children with cerebral palsy… and even the odd tourist with a croc bite! During the afternoons
I primarily saw outpatients, but also did school and home visits. There are regular trips to visit
communities, either flying or driving, depending on distance and whether there is a RFDS clinic on
that day. One of my fondest memories of these trips is of visiting Wananami School at Kupungarri
Community on the Gibb River Road – the kids were so loving and wanted to learn and have a go
at everything! I met some truly amazing people and it was wonderful though to see how well the
allied health team worked together living in sometimes very isolated areas.”
NRHSN Alumni
Hamish Alker-Jones was a member of
SHARP while studying his Bachelor of Science,
Hons (Chem) and of LARHC Wodonga (now
named AWAIRH) for his Bachelor of Nursing, La
Trobe University Albury/Wodonga Campus which
he graduated from in 2004.
Asked about some of his memories of the NRHSN, Hamish remembers
the “Tasmanian NURHC which was postponed due to an airline strike,
highlighting the difficulties of getting health professionals into areas
that have limited transport” & on his favourite memory “I’m not sure
I’d be comfortable with printing that!”
While studying, Hamish “chose a mix of local, rural, remote and metro
areas whilst on placement. These ranged from living in a converted
school bus on a farm in Springhurst to nurses quarters in a Canberra
hospital to laying half awake with
the 2-way ambulance radio by the
bed whilst on placement with the
RFDS in Wilcannia.”
Discussing his path to where he is
now, Hamish says “I started off in
general nursing, but quickly moved
across to psych nursing. I have
enjoyed having the flexibility in
employment. I chose nursing as
something I wanted to do and so
made myself a promise that if I was
unhappy, or what I was doing wasn’t what I wanted, I would look
elsewhere and keep my options open. I’ve stuck to that, and it has
made things all the more enjoyable.
Before joining the Early Psychosis Service, Wodonga Regional Health
Service, I was part of the Crisis team which, due to the size (or lack
of compared to a metro area) isn’t a Crisis Assessment and Treatment
Team (CATT), but rather an Acute Adult Response and Treatment Team
(AARTT). Here I learned valuable skills that have been put to good
use during the after hours on-call. This provides psychiatric response
and assessment to the catchment area outside of business hours.
Here you are a sole clinician, and need to liaise with the inpatient
unit, ED and other emergency services to assess, determine treatment
and potentially provide transport for individuals within the scope of
the Mental Health Act of Victoria. What adds an extra dimension to
this is the inpatient unit is 70 km down the road!
No two days are ever
the same. Looking
after the mental health
of individuals in a
community setting has
many challenges and
when the barriers of
stigma, disconnectedness,
rurality and illness can be
overcome, it makes the
hassles all worth it.”
What do members get up to after graduation?
Jess Turner was an
active member of ROUSATH
while she completed her
Bachelor of Enabling and
Participating (“some call
it Occupational Therapy”)
graduating in 2007. Jess
“managed to score a seat
at the National Rural Health
Conference in Albury/Wodonga 2007 and the NURHC just before. Just check
out youtube to see how much fun we had, this probably motivated me to
do what I’m doing now. I was blessed by a CoNS grant to attend the Garma
Festival of Indigenous Culture in Nhulunbuy, NT. The theme of the Key Forum
was ‘Indigenous Health: Real Solutions to a Chronic Problem’, and occurred
as Mr Howard was passing the “Intervention” bill. It sure was heated...
and there was just so much to learn from so many people in the most
spectacular setting amongst the North East Arnhem scrub.
The big events are of course very memorable, but I really enjoyed the
smaller ones like the Allied Health ‘present your profession’ night FURHS
held, and meeting and chatting with students from other Universities
around the country with similar interests and passions.”
Since graduating, Jess “initially, partied a fair bit. Then when I ran out of
money I moved to the Territory to work as an OT. I’ve worked in both the
private and public sector, and still feel like I know nothing. I’m working for
a company who provide all kinds of rehab services for people with motor
accident (the roads can be rough up here) and workplace injuries, as well
as provide assessments all over the top end and Northern WA, which are
contracted out by Centrelink. I’m very lucky to be given the opportunity to
see a lot of the top end with my work, not to mention the rad places I get
to explore on my weekends.”
For current health students, Jess says “do a
rural placement, be spontaneous, network
and make sure you have personal support
mechanisms set up - it can get lonely out
there, get involved with anything that you’re
curious about or interested in within the local
community, volunteer, be yourself and have
fun. It’s all pretty common sense stuff...make
it work for you too..”
NRHSN AlumniAre you about to graduate (or know people who have already graduated )?
Were you involved with your Rural Health Club?
We’re keen to hear from past RHC members to develop
the NRHSN alumni. Our current aims are to:
• Develop an alumni database and membership
• Reconnect alumni members and find out where they are now
• Distribute Cooee! newsletters
• Inspire current students
• Find out from you guys what you want from the NRHSN alumni!
Please visit www.nrhsn.org.au/go/alumni for more information and to fill in your registration form. Also look for the NRHSN alumni group on facebook!
“Being part of the community and part of
it’s health - it’s a good feeling.”
“No two days are ever the same!”
Fishing off the beach at Bare Sand Is. about 50km
West of Darwin. (“I didn’t catch a bloody thing”)
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
The NRHSN was well represented at the recent
SARRAH conference in Yeppoon, where we
were invited to present both a plenary session
and a workshop. Both were very well received
by health professionals and academics, and
generated some very valuable discussions.
We would like to thank SARRAH for making
the students who attended feel welcome, and
very much a part of the discussions during the
conference.
A new Allied Health Clinical Placement
Scholarship (AHCPS) Scheme, funded by the
Department of Health and Aging has recently
been opened. The scheme is open to most
Allied Health disciplines, and assists with
travel, accommodation and living expenses
for students whilst on a rural placement.
This is a wonderful step towards increasing
the opportunities for allied health students
interested in rural and remote health. For
further information www.sarrah.org.au.
We look forward to working with Allied Health
members from clubs right across Australia,
as we work towards completing a number of
projects as the year draws to an end.
Contacted us at [email protected] with
any queries – we’d love to hear from you!
The last few months have seen the Medical
Portfolio contribute to a number of policy
documents and areas of interest for the NRHSN,
including the position paper on GP superclinics
and the Rural Health and Hospitals Reform
Commission submission. In addition, we
continue to contribute to the BMP and MRBS
support scheme national advisory committees.
There has been some development in the
creation of a memorandum of understanding
with the Australian Medical Students’
Association. This document is expected to be
formalised in coming weeks. The creation of
this MoU will hopefully strengthen ties and
collaboration between the NRHSN and AMSA.
The John Flynn Placement Program tender
has been re awarded to ACRRM. The NRHSN
is hoping to meet with the JFPP program
manager in coming months to offer assistance
and feedback on the program for 2009.
The medical subcommittee is currently drafting
some recommendations about how the NRHSN
can better represent its members in feeding
information from students back to various
program managers, including JFPP, BMP and
MRBS. This is likely to be a major project in
2009 and anybody with ideas is encouraged to
e-mail them to [email protected].
Nursing Portfolio activities have included:
Review and assessment of members’ •applications for Conferences of National
Significance (CoNS) funding to ensure
equitable distribution and responsible
allocation of CoNS funds.
Provision of Nursing perspectives, interests •and presentation of issues concerning
Nursing student members for the NRHSN
Council and other interested groups.
Advice and support for individual Nursing •members within the Network through
email, phone and in person meetings.
NRHSN Nursing members have •attended and presented at peak nursing
professional body National Conferences,
with James Bonello presenting at the
Royal College of Nursing Australia Annual
Conference and Sally Grainger presenting
at the Council for Remote Area Nurses of
Australia conference.
The revised format on Winnows (NRHSN •Nursing sub-group) is expected to come
into action in 2009.
I continue to believe wholeheartedly that we
are very fortunate to belong to such a strong,
growing Network of passionate students,
willing to volunteer time and effort to support
rural health in Australia. [email protected].
Allied Health PortfolioKate Gray & Cristen Fleming, Co-Allied Health representatives
Medical PortfolioLuke Smith,Medical Representative
Nursing PortfolioJames BonelloNursing Representative
ARHENAustralian Rural Health Education Network
Lana Prout
The Australian Rural Health Education Network
(ARHEN) has been around now for 7 years
looking after the numerous University
Departments of Rural Health (UDRH) that
are located across Australia. Each UDRH is
multi-disciplinary and is charged with the
responsibility to increase and improve rural
experience, including training, to encourage
cultural awareness and sensitivity to
Indigenous health issues, for students across
all health disciplines.
ARHEN’s current projects include the Rural
Undergraduate Placement (RUP) Accommodation
Audit, and the UDRH Placements and Student
Satisfaction Project, both of which are supplying
valuable information to the NRHSN Placement
and Scholarship Working Party. ARHEN is also
overseeing the establishment of a Mental Health
Academic at each UDRH.
ARHEN has also produced the informative
magazine ‘Opportunities as vast as the
landscape – working in rural and remote
health’ which details training and career
opportunities available in rural and remote
areas. In addition they have published ‘A Text
Book of Australian Rural Health’ and contribute
regularly to the Journal of Rural and Remote
Health. All of these publications, as well as
additional information about ARHEN including
local contact details, can be accessed from
their website www.arhen.org.au.
National Rural Health AllianceRachel Bourke, NRHA Representative
The National Rural Health Alliance is the
peak body in rural and remote health and
seeks to achieve equal health outcomes for
rural and remote communities in relation
to city dwellers. The NRHA has 28 member
organisations including professional groups,
e.g. Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia
Inc (CRANA); education groups, e.g. Australian
Rural Health Education Network Limited
(ARHEN); consumer groups; health service
providers and of course us.
This impressive scope of representation
ensured that the NRHA CouncilFest attracted a
lot of media attention. See
www.ruralhealth.org.au for some of the media
releases. The good name of the NRHA as a
The NRHSN seeks to represent the views of its
members to the highest level of government.
We know from the views health students
expressed at the National Undergraduate Rural
Health Conference (NURHC) in Launceston
earlier this year and from the views the NRHSN
Council expressed at the recent Council Face-
2-Face meeting, that the key messages you
wanted us to convey are:
Students want positive rural health
experiences. Students want equity in access
to incentives across health disciplines. This
includes Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Allied
Health and Medicine. Students want to work
in multidisciplinary teams. This is especially
important for our future rural careers.
Rural Health Club Events
For more information on events or to advertise your RHC events please go to www.nrhsn.org.au/go/events. It’s the most viewed section of the website!
The standard of Rural Health Club events has certainly reached a new level in 2008 - congratulations to
everyone who has been invloved in organising these events. Some of our highlights have included: RAW (Rural
Appreciation Weekend), Campfire 08, Cross Cultural Awareness Weekend in Alice Springs, the Hills Hoist series...
stories from our own backyard, Midnight Muster, The Dirt Track... Inspiration for rural health care Conference,
Car maintenance course covering essentials for driving on rural roads, Photo exhibition, Mental Health Events,
Presentation Skills workshops, Close the Gap Day events, rural driving/4wd safety courses, Remote area first aid
training, Bushdances & plenty of multi-D, careers, scholarships, placements and speakers nights.
cooperative organisation that works to achieve
the best outcomes for the people of rural
communities was particularly evident during
discussions with Health Minister Nicola Roxon.
Ms Roxon was interested in the student view
and I was able to speak directly with her about
the 3 issues mentioned above. The NRHSN
invovlement at the NRHA CouncilFest was a
great success with the NRHA Council members
all keen to hear and promote the student
view. After all, we are the future workforce,
educators and consumers for rural Australia!
To ensure rural health issues that affect
students are kept on the agenda, we want to
hear from you!
Please email [email protected]
Clockwise Top to Bottom: AURHA, FURHS and ROUSTAH at Campfire 08, SHARP’s Hills Hoist series, RAHMS and other NSW RHCs at RAW, SPINRPHEX &
WAALHIIBE at their Children’s Festival, CARAH at their Cross Cultural Awareness Weekend and HOPE4HEALTH’s Midnight Muster.
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
AURHA:AdelaideUniversity, SA
Jasmine
Banner
ARMS:AustralianNational University, ACT
Yu-Ting
Huang
AWAIRH:La Trobe University, Wondonga VIC
Nicole Anderson
As everyone knows, AWAIRH is
one of the new clubs this year.
We are having some teething
problems at the moment but are
starting to get back on track once
more. We have been running
student poverty dinners once a
month in conjunction with the
campus film club (sponsored by
Unitingcare, and very gratefully
assisted by the Uni Cafe), and
these $3 all-you-can-eat meals
have, as you might guess, been
very well received.
You will notice a blank space
where our logo should be and we
are currently working on rectifying
this! Our intended logo will be
centred on a wedge-tailed eagle
and we should hopefully have
something soon to show for all
our discussions!
We also drummed up some
potential new members at the Uni
open day, with all Allied Health
lecturers sending their potential
students our way. We managed to
get quite a few people interested,
and this may help to grow our
membership next year. As well
as this, we linked in with some
community members who are
interested in giving public lectures
through AWAIRH so this should be
very exciting.
Our NRHSN Senior Rep, Nicole
Anderson, attended the
September face-to-face meeting
and has returned with a great
many ideas as to how we can
really get moving and start getting
stuck into RHSVs and the like.
Highlights in 2008 include the
ARMS Ski Trip to Perisher - 48 Med
students,staff & significant others
enjoyed perfect weather and
snow conditions.
The year 2’s spent a Rural Week in
either Bega, Eurobodalla, Cooma
or Young. Many appreciated
spending time with UC Allied
Health students.
Bega highlights included the
grand rounds with Dr AJ Collins,
time with local communities, a
boat tour of Twofold Bay; joining
in on the new CPR challenge.
Eurobodalla highlights included
plaster-casting with physios, bus
tour, a farm visit; surfing with
the dolphins, a talk about rural
practice with the local surgeon.
Cooma highlights include
interviews for our Projects,
community dinners, an afternoon
of blood pressure, blood glucose
and BMI checks, a trip to Perisher,
and a presentation by the local
emergency services.
Young highlights were great food
and hospital rounds with local
doctors, a plastering clinic, BP
screening.
Upcoming Events include the
ARMS Inaugural Speaker and a Car
Maintenance Course/BBQ.
One of our biggest events for the
year was Campfire – a 2 day forum
on rural health, involving the
three SA rural health clubs AURHA,
FURHS and ROUSTAH.
Held in September immediately
following Vibe Alive, it was
hosted by Nick and Jodi at Pichi
Richi Park, between Quorn and
Port Augusta. It was a beautiful
location and a great opportunity
to meet new people, catch up
with older friends, and network
with other clubs. nestled in and
surrounded by the beginnings of
the Flinders Ranges. Highlights of
the academic program included
insight into the day of an
Aboriginal Health Worker from
three different perspectives, and
an initiative in the APY lands
in far north SA by audiologists.
Also inspirational was ‘Nugga’
Edwards who ran a Men’s Shed
in Port Augusta for retired, aging
men to help fight against mental
illness, and Dr Lian-Lloyd who
spoke about his fight against the
recent SA country health plan. We
had student presentations who
spoke on interesting placements
or research projects in rural /
remote SA. Skills sessions included
massage strapping and a first aid
talk followed by a spin in a real
ambulance!
We’d like to thank everyone
involved for their sponsorship and
support, especially the NRHSN
Education.
We’d like to thank everyone
involved for their sponsorship and
support, especially the NRHSN.
CARAH: Charles Darwin University, NT in assoc. with Flinders Uni, SA
CARAH Health Career Speakers
night at Centre for Remote Health,
Alice Springs. We had 4 speakers
from Alice Springs Hospital talk
about different Nursing careers.
Careers Expo at St Philip’s
College: CARAH had a display
table, guessing competition and
measured students’ pulse rate and
O2 saturation.
CARAH Cross-cultural Awareness
Weekend around 20 participated
in sessions run by Dave and Bess
Price, well-known local cross-
cultural awareness consultants,
AND a visit to the Haasts Bluff
Clinic.
Ti Tree Festival: We’ll be running
sessions for indigenous kids
on plastering & hand hygiene,
food pyrramid and liberal used
of dermatoscopes/ otoscopes/
stethoscopes/ tendon hammers
This is a wonderful opportunity
to have fun with the kids and
promote health careers to them.
BREAATHHE:University ofNewcastle, NSW
Mary Stokes
CRANC: University of Canberra, ACT
Erica Collins
It has been a turbulent first year for
CRANC. We said goodbye to our
founding members (Nick Knowles
and Aleem Khalfan) in April and
have been busy trying to sort out
the administration of the club in
between placement and academic
responsibilities.
We have been trying hard to
recruit lots of new members so
a lot of our activities have been
directed at encouraging new
members to join. We had a stall
at the Semester 2 ‘O’ week and
had a table at the University Open
day in August.
We have sent members on a
couple of Rural High School Visits,
Rosie Walcott went with ARMS to
Bombala and Paul McLucas and
myself went to Eden, Pambula
and Bega with RAHMS. We are
learning heaps about what we can
do on RHSV’s so will be planning
a few of our own toward the end
of this year and the beginning of
2009.
We sent a contingent off to the
Rural Appreciation Weekend
(RAW) in Dunedoo and we are
keen to have these students
come back with a passion for ‘the
bush’. We will get these guys to
put together a report that I can
send to the wider University and
hopefully put in the University
newsletter.
We have members heading to
Coffs Harbour for Deadly Days. I
am quite excited as this will be
our first Indigenous Festival! I am
keen for our delegates to come
back to Canberra with a renewed
vigour for Indigenous health
together with some ‘contagious’
excitement to encourage other
members to attend these
Indigenous Festivals!
We held our first social event for
this semester – a trivia night. We
were fortunate to have a couple
of ARMS members come along
and enjoy the quiz, the food and
the socialising. Hopefully we can
orgnaise another social event
together before the end of the
year.
Apart from that we are all enjoying
the challenges of establishing
a new club! Thanks must go to
all those tireless workers from
the NRHSN who have helped us
through our teething problems, as
well as the guys from ARMS who
have been a great help in getting
us started!
Anna Huigen
Our highly anticipated skills nights
have once again been a success
for the club, our first was aimed
at Medical students and a second
for Allied Health. The two separate
skills nights allowed us to cater
to the differing needs and give
more students practical skills in
suturing, plastering, venepuncture
and canulation.
We opened the year with a harbor
cruise. Where our new members
were introduced to the club and
each other while enjoying the
buffet dinner and dancing.
Our night of BBQ and lawn bowls
was very well received. Members
were able to socialize over a
friendly game of bowls and the
response has been very positive.
The night also saw an influx of
enthusiastic new members joining
BREAATHHE, keen for more of
what we have to offer.
So far 2008 has been a successful
and busy year for BREAATHHE and
we look forward to an equally
successful 2009. Until then we
hope to be able to ‘breaathhe’
easy over summer.
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
FURHS:FlindersUniversity, SA
James Bonello
KRASH:Notre DameUniversity, WA
Kristie Ballagh
The second half of 2008 has been
busy for FURHS members - some
highlights include:
11-12th July 2008 – FURHST Aid
Night: On this cold Adelaide hills
night, FURHS members were
joined by AURHA and ROUSTAH
members for a BBQ and beer.
After this was a skills session
run by the Wilderness Medicine
Institute, with some practical
remote scenarios complete with
fake blood and bandages. Then
the fun began as everybody
relaxed under the stars in front
of the bonfire and settled down
for the night. The next day after
breakfast everybody had a chance
to explore the farm. Overall, the
night was a lot of fun with about
20 members participating and
some even bringing partners and
their children.
29th July 2008 - Multi-Discipline
Evening: Organised with the
GPSN and involving students
with prior health careers running
stands on what happens in the
real world. Stands included Rural
Pathology, Radiology, Speech
Pathology, Pharmacy, Nursing
and Paramedics. The night was
a success with all involved taking
home a new respect for other
disciplines outside their own field.
28-30th August 2008 – Allied
Health Trip to the Riverland: This
trip saw 13 allied health and
nursing students from FURHS and
ROUSTAH head to the Riverland
for two and a half days of both
clinical skills and social activities.
The trip was capped off with
a detour into one of the local
wineries on the way home.
20th September 2008 – FURHS
Masquerade Ball: A great time
was had by about 60 people who
polished off their suits and dresses
to frock up for this annual event.
This year we had a face-painter
on site to make sure that those
who didn’t come with a mask
didn’t miss out. Dale Elliot, a local
guest speaker provided inspiration
about how he dealt with facing
the challenges of quadriplegia.
The night was a great way for
everybody to relax before the fun
and excitement of exams.
members with Specialists and
Physios from Gold Coast Hospital
and our Teddy Bear Hospital
program.
Coming up soon we have our
second annual Midnight Muster
- another fundraiser for The Royal
Flying Doctors Service.
This has been such a short
snippet of the many things
we do…Hope4Health Horizons
Seminar series, Rocky Rural Health
Weekend, Stanthorpe Rural Trip,
Friday Arvo Films, International
Health Group, Hope4Health Golf
Day (another big fundraiser),
Shave for a Cure, Red Party
(AIDS Awareness and yes, more
fundraising!) etc etc…
We can’t wait for another big year
with the NRHSN in 2009!
Being a new club, KRASH has
experienced many challenges
in the last couple of months
and hopefully these have been
overcome and we can move
forward.
We have held a hover craft tour
for recruitment purposes and to
encourage the present members.
The trip showcased the beauty
and historical significance of the
region, we saw dinosaur footprints
naturally preserved into the rocks
saw amazing rock formations and
enjoyed the remote beaches. The
evening ended with nibbles in the
middle of the mud flat of Roebuck
bay (the tide was out) while
watching the sun set. The trip was
a large success raising awareness
of the Kimberley and rural health
as well as KRASH gaining more
members. We have also been
involved in a school visit to one of
the schools in Broome, to promote
health awareness and protect
KRASH onto the community.
HOPE4HEALTH:GriffithUniversity, WA
Lucy Barnett
Hope4Health joined the NRHSN
in July 2008 and it has been a
great adventure so far. We are
based at Griffith University on the
Gold Coast and consist of over
500 members from Medicine,
Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy and
other Allied Health Disciplines.
Our club has been very active
since 2006 - when we heard about
the great things the NRHSN does,
we wanted to be a part of it.Then
three of our members attended
NURHC in April. It felt great to say
‘I want to go rural’ and not feel
ashamed – as can happen when
you chat to your urban peers.
Hope4Health gained a lot from
the multi-disciplinary approach
of the NRHSN. It is so nice to feel
our club and members supported
by the executive and council of
the NRHSN....having Felix Ho and
James Bonnello attend our annual
Jazz Dinner Dance – a corporate
fundraising event for The Royal
Flying Doctors Service followed up
by a visit from Linda Nink (with
the massive Induction Kit!).
NRHSN Membership has involved
our members in many additional
activities. In June we attended
our first Indigenous Festival
– Wakakirri in Cunnamulla. Despite
the agonising 11hr bus trip we
had a great time, the Scrubs Relay
a highlight.
More recently we had two
Rural High School Visits. One in
association with Rural Health
Workforce Queensland to Dalby.
We held a second Primary School
Visit to Cherbourg Community,
enhancing our a close relationship
with regular clinical visits for our
LARHC:La TrobeUniversity, VIC
Surabhi
Khosla ,
Alison
Sahhar &
Amy Smith
On the 31st of July, the LARHC
committee held a Winter
Wonderland ball complete with a
sit down dinner and dancing with
many of the 150 guest wearing
‘a touch of winter ’. We were
honoured to have as our guest,
Mr Shannon Nott, Co-Chair of the
NRHSN. It was a huge success,
one we hope to emulate next
year.
Rural High School Visits this year
include trips to Castlemaine,
Echuca and Kyenton by students of
various health disciplines.
Three of our students- Surabhi
Khosla, Julie Gittins and Emily
Jordan were privileged to attend
the 8th National Services for
Australian Rural and Remote Allied
Health Conference in late August.
They gained valuable knowledge
and enjoyed networking with
students and professionals as well
as the workshop organised by the
NRHSN, on scholarships and the
rural placement database.
Dr. Amanda Kenny (Dir. of Health
Sciences, Bendigo) as the guest
speaker in September at La Trobe
University in Bendigo, spoke
about the development of GP
MARHS:Charles SturtUni, Albury, NSW Jenny Barr
The last couple of months have
been typically busy with plenty
going on in Albury. In early August
MARHS ran a cultural awareness
night. On the night we had
great presentations from a local
indigenous social worker and an
aboriginal health worker.
We also heard about the
experiences of MARHS members
who attended the Northern
Territory Rural High School Visit
program and students who
attended the Kullarri Naidoc
festival up in Broome. The night
was a great success and we are
planning to make this night an
annual event.
3 Lucky MARHS students recently
headed up to the SARRAH
conference in sunny Yepoon. We
are looking forward to hearing
about their experiences at our
next meeting, but no doubt a
great time was had.
We also have a busy time ahead
with the MARHS’ Multi-D Bush
Bash Ball scheduled in for the
12th of September, the Rural
Awareness Weekend set for the
labour day long weekend and
Marhs will also be helping out at
the university mental health day
in early October.
Superclinics, which intend to
address the acute shortage of
health care professionals in the
region. Q&A session was followed
by a forum to discuss student
issues on accommodation,
transport etc in Bendigo, which
will be presented in a meeting
with Bendigo council later this
year.
Anton Morrison, Jonathon Oram
& Amy Smith attended the Port
Augusta Vibe Alive Festival.
“We worked in the careers pod,
plastering children’s fingers and
face painting; & in the health
section, we discussed with
children about healthy hearts.
We also enjoyed the kids singing,
dancing and playing basketball.
Overall, it was wonderful
experience and lots of great
memories were created”, divulged
Amy.
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
MIRAGE:University of Sydney, NSW
Robyn Billing
NERCHA:University of New England, NSW
Peta McDonald &
Allese Tansley
The Indigenous Health Forum, hosted by
MIRAGE and USyd Medical Society facilitated by
Julie McCrossin, during National Reconciliation
Week, provided a framework for lively
discussion on ‘The Apology’ and intentions for
closing the gap. Local Cadigal elder, Mr Charles
Madden, gave the official Welcome to meet
and learn on the land of the Cadigal people.
Dr Marlene Kong, a GP and the Medical
Officer for the Australian Indigenous Doctors
Association (AIDA), presented their views
on education as a vital tool in bridging the
gap. Dr Shane Hearn, Senior Lecturer in
Public Health,USyd, spoke on the benefits
of addressing deficits in health-workers,
particularly Aboriginal Healthcare Workers
and the collaborative approaches to ensure
programs are relevant to specific communities.
Dr Sandra Meihubers, a Public Dental Health
Consultant, within Aboriginal Medical Services,
spoke about the “Housing for Health” program.
Horticulturalist and cultural educator Noel
Butler of the Budawang tribe, who conducts
cultural emergence weekends for Medical
students and professionals addressed the issue
of having relevant Indigenous culture as part
of educational curriculum. Noel shared his
family’s story and personal experience of the
stolen generation.
Tom Rubin from USyd spoke about the Poche
Centre for Indigenous Health. The Centre has
the capacity to implement community based
health initiatives and involve students in
research and clinical practice.
NERCHA has had a busy few months spreading
the rural health message among the Armidale
community. In August we held our first Annual
Formal Dinner, bringing together Nursing and
Medical students for an enjoying evening of
extremely entertaining speeches from the
Honourable Mr Richard Torbay, MP for Northern
Tablelands, Assoc.Prof. Jeanne Madison and
Prof. John Fraser. Dr Angie Smith stole the
show with her vocal talents.The dinner was
such a great success that this event will surely
be repeated next year (although the NERCHA
Nurses do hope next year the Med students
will come out and party with them instead of
going back to college to study!).
The recent University Open Day was a huge
event with NERCHA manning a very popular
stall. It was great meeting future health
students and promoting membership of
NERCHA.
A group of NERCHA’s Medical members
represented the club and the university at
this years’ Ag Quip in Gunnedah as well as a
road trip to Port Macquarie where they caught
up with BREEATHHE members, in what was
the first official liaison between members
of JMP from both UNE and Newcastle. The
Medical students were given a tour of the Port
Macquarie base hospital followed by a talk on
self preservation by Dr Mark Stewart. NERCHA
hopes this is one of many events we will host
with BREEATHHE next year.
The first NERCHA executive team, made up
solely of third year nurses, is about to graduate,
and recently resigned from their positions,
handing over the club to a bunch of fresh,
bright, and enthusiastic medical and nursing
students. We wish them the best of luck for the
future, and hope NERCHA only gets bigger and
better.
OUTLOOK:University ofMelbourne, VIC
Joshua Crase
Peta Macdonald
The Outlook and Moovin Health AGM resulted
in an enthusiastic reshuffled committee, new
students on the executive, and the election of
Outlook’s Louise Boyle as NRHSN Junior Rep.
We would like to welcome Dr Helen Malcolm
who takes over co-ordinating Moovin Health
and Outlook from Assoc Prof Graeme Jones,
who along with Di Doyle has done an excellent
job overseeing and supporting the club. Thanks
Graeme for all your help.
Moovin Health released its first Rural Clinical
School Guide for Semester 8 and 9 students,
providing some hints and tips on making the
most of the three Melbourne University sites –
Ballarat, Shepparton and Wangaratta. .
The Rural Careers Weekend hosted by Monash
University in Traralgon during early August
attracted a considerable number of students
from each club. The weekend focused on
General Practice and specialist career pathways
in rural medicine.
Outlook held a successful dinner at Di Mattina’s
restaurant in Carlton for 80 RAMUS, MRBS, BMP
and ERC (Extended Rural Cohort – Melbourne
University’s preferential rural stream) students.
Three students talked about the Rural Clinical
School programs.
The Moovin Health Ball will be held during
late October. Following last year’s successful
masquerade event the students are looking
forward to another exciting and fun-filled
evening! Look out Yahoo Bar and Goulburn
Valley Hotel!
Vibe Alive will be happening in early November
in Mildura and Outlook and Moovin Health will
be sending students. The Indigenous reps from
each clinical and central University site will
coordinate students to attend.
NOMAD:Deakin University, VIC
Cam Hart
Over the past few months the Deakin Rural
Health club has been taking shape. It has been
a slow and obstacle laden journey but it has
been rewarding at the same time. As of the
start of the financial year the club was officially
known as NOMAD (Nursing, OT, Medicine and
Allied Health at Deakin) and a few of our exec
committee positions were filled.
In the past month or so the committee has
been working on our budget and constitution,
this has now been finalised a. Membership
forms have been formatted and sent out to
our prospective members who were recruited
through 5 recruitment drives over the year.
The future is bright, we have an enthusiastic
exec committee and supportive student body.
Plans are in progress and letters drawn up for
our first events and fabulous activities planned
for the remainder 2008.
Our first Rural High School Visits is being
planned for October. We have organised a
heap of fun and slightly educational equipment
and will be distributing course brochures provided
by Deakin’s marketing department. We intend
to run presentation skills workshops, which will
be aimed at improving and refining presentation
skills needed for various events and will be a
requirement of going on a RHSV.
NOMAD, being a new club, is logo-less although
we’re holding a logo competition, open to all
students. The logo must reflect the themes of
rurality, remoteness, health, and the definition of
nomad (to travel in a land that is all home).
Details are yet to be finalized for another upcoming
competition involving students producing short
multimedia presentations around rural health
related issues.
This is the progress of NOMAD to date and we
would like to thank those who have helped us
along the way and we look forward to a great
couple of months now that the club is up and
running.
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
RHINO:James CookUniversity, QLD
Adem Anaa
RHUUWS:University of Western Sydney
Fay Lewer
The start of the semester saw
five RAHMSers travel down to the
South Coast to visit four schools,
enjoying the gorgeous scenery
of Merimbula, Panbula, Eden
and Bega- a very successful and
enjoyable trip.
Another initiative that began this
term is Gold Coin Yoga, raising
money for our chosen charity.
In early August, large numbers of
students trekked off to the Greater
Murray and Mid North Coast to
visit UNSW Rural Clinical Schools,
feedback describing the trip as
very useful and insightful.
A bus load of RAHMS attended
the Vibe Alive in Coonamble,
followed with an Indigenous
Movie Night, providing members
When is the next Rural High
School Visit (RHSV)? . It is a
testament to RHINO’s commitment
and leadership in promoting rural
and remote health initiatives
that we had a constant stream
of hands raised to participate in
wit with questions such as “Name
the RHUUWS mascot?” Answer
“Russ the Roo”
We sent six eager students along
to the Vibe Alive festival in NSW.
They enjoyed meeting the local
kids, reporting drooling enviously
over other clubs shirts.
Upcoming events include a clinical
skills night in October, probably
more BBQs, the Deadly Days
festivals, RAW and a Rural High
School Visit, as well as a couple
of our lucky members heading
off to the NT to join CARAH to
learn about cultural awareness.
Westside represent!
We have just turned the ripe old
age of one and are starting to
achieve the milestones and rites
of passage that we have been
setting ourselves.
The 2008 RHUUWS exec are
working hard to establish their
portfolios and making RHUUWS a
RAHMS:University of NSW, NSW
Hassan Ahmad
with engaging entertainment and
an opportunity to socialise.
Plans in the pipeline include our
second Rural High School Visit to
Gunnedah, the Rural Appreciation
Weekend in early October, a
second Clinical Skills Night, a
beach sports day, drinks at The
Royal, venturing around to Sydney
markets…... all before our major
end of year social event.
RHSV’s, where the experienced
presenters lead the unitiated.
On my first RHSV many of the
group had little experience in
presentations with Mitch Sharrock
setting the bar high in a previous
RHSV. Fortunately, with the
organisational skills of Francine
Riley of Health Careers in The Bush
we may have just raised the bar a
little higher.
A group of pharmacy, physio &
OT students, visited schools in
Mackay, Bowen, and Ayr (with
an unavoidable detour through
AIRLY BEACH). With each new
high school visited, we gained
confidence, enhanced connection
with the students whilst doling
out lollies.
The RHSV was a rewarding
and enlightening experience
for presenters and high school
students where we received
feedback such as “I never gave
much thought to University or
healthcare, but I might give it a go
now…”.
straight forward club to run and a
fun and informative club to join.
Our AGM had a great turnout & all
but one of our exec positions were
filled, enjoyable company, food
and vino completed the success.
Since then, aided by BBQ masters
and sexy fluoro orange aprons,
we’re keeping people aware of
our fab club, its goings on and
making joining as easy possible.
MIRAGE invited us along to their
D’n’R cruise last semester, which
also had great feedback as we
mixed with the Sydney Uni crew.
The first RHUUWS CLUES trivia
night went off! We tested teams’
ROUSTAH:University of South Australia
Renae Strugnell
ROUNDS:Notre DameUniversity, NSW
Since the establishment of
ROUNDS in Semester 2 this year
we have had several planning
meetings about the future
direction of our new club. The
small committee and membership
base are keen to establish RHSVs
and have made some contacts
with school in the Snowy
Mountains region and Bathurst
area of NSW. We are currently
putting together a resource kit
for these future visits and have
identified a contact student rep
and team of interested members
to take part in a RHSV soon.
Another initiative that we hope
to get off the ground soon is a
mentoring program for young
rural students. A group of school
students will be invited to our
university for a day of workshops,
classes and general discussion
with the Notre Dame Medical
students. Following on from this
event, we plan to mentor and stay
in touch with these students in
the coming years. More planning
is needed for this event but its
a great start for our club.
In the July holidays, two students
organised their own rural medical
experience. Both students
independently arranged to visit
Aboriginal communities in the
Northern Territory and shared their
experience with the club on their
return.
As the end of the academic year
is only 10 weeks away, it is our
vision to look towards recruiting
new members in 2009, especially
since we will have a new
group of Medical students and
work towards improving the
profile of rural health amongst
our nursing and Medical students.
We also plan on organising and
attending events in NSW and
around the country.
Annalyse Crane
ROUSTAH’s Executive Committee
has seen the resignation of the
Ingrid Cammatta, President and
Michael Tomic, Treasurer. We
welcome Tahlia Heath (3rd Year
Pharmacy) as President and Ruth
Volgelsang (3rd Year Laboratory
Medicine) as the Treasurer.
We’re excited to introduce the
Rural Doctor’s Workforce Agency
(RDWA) and their administration!
ROUSTAH’s main aim over the last
few months has been to recruit
new members. We held an end of
semester BBQ on June 11th which
was an absolute hit! The use
of SMS to all members and the
flock of posters certainly helped
promote the event. We increased
membership by 50 to 120.We
have developed a powerpoint
presentation to promote ROUSTAH.
Our relationship with AURHA
and FURHS continues to flourish
with numerous tri-club meetings
and great events, including
the Wilderness First Aid night;
the Riverland clinical skills trip
and Campfire. ROUSTAH have
been involved in RHSVs to Clare
& Burra, Whyalla & Pt Augusta
which were very successful.
Member’s thoroughly enjoyed
their involvement in the Vibe Alive
Festival held in Port Augusta.
Six members attended the SARRAH
Conference held in Yeppon QLD in
August. Other students presented
at the Occupational Therapy
Country Forum held in Clare, SA
in September. Here member’s
presented on project’s completed
in the rural SA. A big thanks to all
member’s who did an exceptional
job in presenting!
Next year promises to be an even
more eventful year for ROUSTAH
with relationships progressing
between the University of South
Australia, the RDWA and Rural
Clinical Placements Unit at UniSA,
whether that be a major event or
developing policies and procedures
the possibilities are endless!!
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
SHARP:University of Wollongong
Naomi
Piyaratna
Rustica:University ofTasmania,
Matthew Van Zetten
Although Tasmania has been
notably quieter since the close of
NURHC back in April, Rustica has
been flat out like a Tassie devil
gnawing on a wallaby carcass.
Since the last edition of Cooee, we
have run heaps of events, some of
which are listed below.
May – AGFEST: Tasmania’s premier
rural/agricultural annual festival,
where six Pharmacy and Medical
student members volunteered
in the Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia tent, promoting rural
health careers.
Rustica and IMPACT (UTAS
international health club) held
the annual Elective’s Night at the
Hobart Clinical School. Electives
presented were diverse, from
North-Eastern Tasmania, through
to Broken Hill, the NT, Mongolia,
Peru and more. During the
evening Rustica bursaries and the
AIMED electives database were
also promoted.
July - The Welcome Back Dinner
was based on the very successful
model we used at the start of the
year – cheap meals and free soft
drinks. Providing a great evening,
a start to inter-disciplinary
friendships and opportunities
to network and recruit new
members.
August - Mental Health First Aid
Weekend: 50 members attended
a 2 day course aimed to broaden
participants’ understanding of
how to assist a person developing
a mental health problem or in a
mental health crisis.
Clinical Skills Nights: Once again,
our regular skills night was a
huge success. As well as practical
stations including venipuncture,
and suturing, the event also
served as our launch of the
NRHSN film, Wide Horizons.
Unfortunately, unlike some other
clubs, we did not provide popcorn
at the viewing, due to concerns
over mess in our lecture theatre.
We have an action packed finish
to 2008 planned including:
2 half day Kayaking Trips •
which will include Aboriginal
cultural talks
A week-long cultural trip to •
Flinders Island in October
Sending 12 members to •
the Vibe Alive festival in
Rockhampton in November
RHSV’s throughout the •
semester.
October -RAW 2008 A small bus
load of SHARP members will be
attending this great event where
they will experience slice of living
in rural Australia with students of
other RHC’s.
Anxiety and Depression
Awareness Month and World
Mental Health Day (10th October)
SHARP will be facilitating a range
of displays and workshops during
the week including a Speaker
Afternoon with representatives
from Beyond Blue and the
University Recreation Centre.
Deadly Days –SHARP members
will be getting involved at both
the Coffs Harbour and Taree
Festivals by promoting health
careers and healthy lifestyles
with a range of interactive expos
reinforcing a positive and healthy
lifestyle. SHARP will also be
attending the Rockhampton Vibe
Alive Festival.
July: Members of SHARP
volunteered at the 23rd Annual
Police Charity Ball, selling balloons
as part of the fundraising effort
towards Haematology/Leukemia
Research and NSW Police Legacy.
August: SHARP launched Wide
Horizons in style, complete with
free fairy floss, popcorn, BBQ
and DVD for a large number of
students from various disciplines
and staff from the Faculty of
Health Sciences, attracting local
media coverage and several new
members for SHARP.
Rockin Rural Road Trip to Griffith.
This trip was jam packed! Students
participated in visits to rural
Medical and/or Primary Health
Care centers and gave the SHARP
members an insight into the daily
life of health practitioners working
in the bush.
The trip included visits to;
Narrandera District Hospital,
Narrandera Medical Centre, Palm
Avenue Surgery, Murrumbidgee
Medical and Primary Care Centre,
and, Griffith Base hospital.
Students were also treated to a
BBQ lunch at Mountford Park in
Leeton (sponsored by Rotary) and
an evening welcome reception at
Griffith Regional Theatre.
Six members from SHARP joined
forces with RHUUWS and RAHMS
for the bus journey to the
Coonamble ‘Vibe Alive’. UOW
students helped with ‘plastering’
children’s arms, wrists and fingers.
SPINRPHEX:University of WA
Tashunka
Taylor-Miller
TEHC:Charles DarwinUniversity, NT
Therese Humphrys
We had a great start to second
semester with our conference,
“Dirt Tracks – Roads to Rural
Health”, a joint event with
WAALHIIBE, held at Notre Dame
in August. The keynote speakers,
workshops, venue and catering
were all fantastic and we had
good attendance from members
studying many different health
disciplines. The speakers had an
amazing variety of experiences
to share of their journeys both in
Australia and overseas, and their
times in rural Australia that make
you consider not “why” go rural,
but “why not?”
We’ve also gone on RHSV to
Geraldton and Bunbury. This
year SPINRPHEX committee
made a decision to only send
Nursing students to these
visits, as we wanted to increase
their involvement in the club’s
activities and the committee.
These have been joint ventures
with WAALHIIBE to encourage
interdisciplinary & inter-club
mingling.
Other events to report on are
our “Talk to a Mate” Mental
Health Workshops and a further 3
workshops, co-hosted by Lifeline
and Wheatbelt Men’s Health,
giving us an opportunity to talk
with year 11 and 12 high school
students, about mental health
issues.
Our annual Children’s Festival,
will involve 50 members taking
the bus to Moora on the weekend
of their hockey grand final with
face painting and kite making
activities.Saturday night is a
chance to discover the night life
of Moora, and on Sunday a farm
visit before returning back to Perth
in the afternoon. This should be a
really fun weekend for members
and local kid’s alike.
We are purchasing a “Gutsy Gus”
anatomical model to be used at
RHSV, Children’s Festivals and
Indigenous festivals as an aid for
discussions with the children.
August was a ripper month
at TEHC. The engaging guest
speaker at our BBQ, Bhavani
Patel spoke on the Indigenous
health experience in an unfamiliar
Medical world, involving the big
crowd, and getting new members
on board!
Free seminars on Aboriginal
Community Controlled Health
Services, a camping trip to
Gunbalunya and the Oenpelli Open
Day in the spectacular Arnhem
Land. Amazing scenery, bush
tucker, dancing, art, local tours
of incredible rock art, dreamtime
stories, local films, live bands, and
the footy grand final.
A TEHC stand at the Uni Health
Day raised our club profile.
Another BBQ and guest speaker
day with Steve Scov chatting
about his amazing life history
and opportunities working in
the Territory. A long time doctor
with lots of remote experience,
flying doctors, alcohol and other
drugs, centre for disease control,
sexual health, and currently
acting chief minister for health in
the NT who is passionate about
Public Health. A fantastic seminar
attended by three members on
Bridging the Cultural Divide by,
Richard Trudgen, with his Yolngu
colleagues. One of the most
in depth and fascinating eye
openers to Yolngu Indigenous
culture, communication problems
and most importantly solutions.
More members are attending
a free seminar on responding
to Child Abuse & Creating Child
Safe Spaces for Nurses and other
health professionals. To top off a
great six months, an end of year
recruitment drive party is being
planned with other clubs at CDU
and a RHSV to finish a great 2008.
C o o e e ! O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8
TROHPIQ:University of Queensland,QLD
Alicia Lorenz
WAALHIIBE:Curtin Uni & Edith Cowan, WA
Joan Kelly
Things have been bubbling along fairly quietly
at TROHPIQ in the last month or so. Our annual
trip to the Cherboug community – an old
aboriginal mission camp – was again a success,
being an eye opening experience for many
city based students. Some of our Allied Health
members have also just attended the SARRAH
conference.
We are working on a new club logo, to be
launched in 2009, that we believe portrays
a more professional look than our previous
(though much loved) logo of Gus, the brightly
coloured dancing goanna.
WAALHIIBE and SPINRPHEX held a rural
health conference at Notre Dame University,
Fremantle on the 16th August. Speakers
included John Bowler (Kalgoorlie MP), Amy
Hollins (Occupational Therapy & Aboriginal
Health Promotion), Alissa Jacobs (Rural
Dentistry), Claire Willix & Alexandra Balzarelli
(RCS Doctors), Joanne Connaughton (North
West Physiotherapist) and Christopher
Cliffe (Red Cross & CRANA). In between the
passionate speakers, delegates actively
engaged in workshops such as learning
Maketon sign language, pregnancy and oral
health, yoga nidra, physiotherapy skills and
Indigenous Health and Heart Foundation. A
big thank you to the sponsors, speakers and
workshop facilitators for making this successful
conference possible.
Geraldton Rural High School Visit - In late
August four enthusiastic WAALHIIBE members
headed 4 ½ hours drive north of Perth to
participate in the annual careers expo for year
10 students at Geraldton Grammar High School.
Our aim was to give the students an idea of uni
life, particularly the move from country areas
to the city, as well as promoting Allied Health
career options. We were fortunate to have a
local in our WAALHIIBE ranks, who provided
good insight into the move from Geraldton to
Perth and making the most of uni life. Many
students were keen to try out some of the
equipment we took along, particularly the
thickened fluids with some brave souls having
a taste. It was also great to see many Allied
Health professionals from the region promoting
their profession and sharing their enthusiasm
for rural health at the event.
Wokka Wokka - Overall Winner - Phoebe Bulla
Amooguna One Teacher School, N.T
Upcoming events:
• TROHPIQ formal dinner – We always have a rurally minded
guest speaker, and this year outspoken and controversial
politician Bob Katter will surely raise some interesting
points for discussion! This is also where we announce
the winners of the Wokka Wokka award – our photography
competition.
• Rural careers night - a new initaitive.
• Planning day – organising next year’s calendar.
• The AGM and handover.
WARRIAHS:Charles SturtUniversity, NSW
Lauren Frieze
WILDFIRE:MonashUniversity, VIC
Samantha
Buchholz
Lauren and Bronwyn attended the
NRHSN Face to Face meeting in
Melbourne in September.
Last term, two of our members,
Lloyd Smith and Samuel Ledger
went over to the Asia-Pacific
Pharmaceutical Symposium
in Khon Kaen, Thailand which
involved seminars on different
aspects of pharmacy practise,
leadership, school visits and
counselling.
Students with interesting clinical
experiences from WARRIAHS,
CRANC and MARHS to share their
stories with a student audience.
This (we hope) will encourage
other students to pursue different
options whether it be rural,
indigenous or worldwide.
WARRIAHS has set a date for
WILDFIRE’s membership base
currently stands at more than 400
members with 8 subcommittees
located across Victoria.
WILDFIRE celebrated its 15th
Birthday this year, dedicating a
week to celebrations in traditional
15th Anniversary style, themed
“Crystal Week”.
our paintballing day for up to 40
people early next term in Albury!
It should be a great day with
pizza, bruises and laughs. I should
note, girls get protection, guys
don’t!
Our AGM is going to be a blast!
The night is going to be hosted
very differently with different
voting systems, encouraging
speeches from our hard working
board members and many more
positions available on board and
committee.
This year instead of having a BBQ
we are hoping to get sponsorship
(by way of food) from Subway.
We’re organising to attend the
Wollongbar Deadly Days Festival,
with the help of advertising to our
willing members!
NRHSN PHOTO COMPETITION $200 prize for winning photo!
Have you got amazing photos that you think would look
great as the new NRHSN website baner? We’re looking for
landscapes and photos of rural and remote Australia and
images that show NRHSN/Rural Health Club members at
work and play to help us freshen up the look of
www.nrhsn.org.au. The photo slected for the home page
banner will be awarded the $200 prize.
Email high resolution photos to [email protected].
Competition closes 16 November.
Ken Noda’s winning photo from the NURHC 08 photo comp
WILDFIRE has been involved in
numerous events including but not
limited to:
Matthew Campbell Memorial •
Evening
WILDFIRE/OUTLOOK Rural •
Medical Careers Weekend
Allied Health Night (Beach •
Theme)
2008 Rural Road Trip •
Rural High School Visits•
FIREFRONT (club magazine) •
2007 Annual Report Release•
Trivia Nights •
Upcoming events include: AGM
2009 Council and Sub-committee
elections, Handover, Mildura Vibe
Alive and RHSVs.
the
futu
re o
f rura
l he
alth
National Rural Health Students’ Network c/o RHWA PO Box 6244 South Yarra Vic 3141 Australia
www.nrhsn.org.au
Telephone 03 8825 4500 Facsimile 03 9804 7370 Email [email protected]
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9
NRHSN Rural Health Clubs
1 ARMS Australian National University, ACT
2 AURHA Adelaide University, SA
3 AWAIRH La Trobe University, Wodonga, VIC
4 BREAATHHE University of Newcastle, NSW
5 CARAH Charles Darwin University, NT in association
with Flinders University, SA
6 CRANC University of Canberra, ACT
7 FURHS Flinders University, SA
8 HOPE4HEALTH Griffith University, QLD
9 KRASH Notre Dame University, Broome, WA
10 LARHC La Trobe University, Bendigo VIC
11 MARHS Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW
12 MIRAGE University of Sydney, NSW
13 NERCHA University of New England, NSW
14 NOMAD Deakin University, VIC
15 Outlook University of Melbourne, VIC
16 RAHMS University of New South Wales, NSW
17 RHINO James Cook University, QLD
18 RHUUWS University of Western Sydney, NSW
19 ROUSTAH University of South Australia, SA
20 Rustica University of Tasmania, TAS
21 SHARP University of Wollongong, NSW
22 SPINRPHEX University of Western Australia, WA
23 TEHC Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT
24 TROHPIQ University of Queensland, QLD
25 WAALHIIBE Curtin University and Edith Cowan University, WA
26 WARRIAHS Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW
27 WILDFIRE Monash University, VIC
3
28 ROUNDS Notre Dame University, Sydney, NSW
28
If you would like to recieve additional copies of the Cowpat, the Rural Placements Guide or
the Wide Horizons DVD please email us at [email protected]
Photo courtesy of Andrew Bullen, Kazu Pearl Farm,Thursday Is.TROPHIQ Photo Competition - Rural Lifestyle Category winner
Quiz A
nswers
1.Thirteen 2.Tasmania 3.1996 4.Sally G
rainger 5.CARA
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6.An airline strike postponed N
URH
C 7.Nine 8.Victoria
9.Wide H
orizons: Health Students G
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