COOEE! April 2011

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This issue • SPINRPHEX turns 21 • Welcome from NRHSN executive • Insights of RHWA CEO • What’s on for the NRHSN• Members share their rural experiences

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Welcome to COOEE!2011 NRHSN Exec Report

Hello folks and welcome to the first COOEE! shout out for 2011. Well hasn’t 2011 started off with a bang for rural health? We’d like to wel-come all the fresh faces and the old hands of the NRHSN and council for 2011, we’re very excited to have you on board and work with you this year. If you’re new, you might want to check out the NRHSN Induction Kit (www.nrhsn.org.au/inductionkit). We have three main goals for 2011: increasing interclub collaboration, in-creasing allied health and nursing membership and engagement and increasing support networks for the clubs and portfolios. We’ve detailed how we plan to achieve these goals in the 2011 Business Plan (www.nrhsn.org.au/business_plan2011), but some of the main ideas are: •As we don’t have a National University Rural Health Conference this year, we want to really support interclub events. Using the national events on the NRHSN website calendar, regional teleconferences and supporting clubs in running new interclub events are our focus, with Campfire, Midnight Muster, RAW events and RAW Surf —all in the works or already run. We’re excited by the way clubs are working together to really strengthen those local networks. We also want to use the new National Membership Database for clubs to communicate more effectively with their

members and allow us to see where we all end up. So please, sign everyone up. • We’d also like to support clubs in increasing and supporting their allied health and nursing members. The nursing and allied health portfolios are doing a great job in building up our relationships with stakeholders as well as planning lots of exciting projects for the year. • We’d also like to mine the wisdom of the clubs, and get ideas from clubs who have strong representation in certain disciplines so that other clubs that might be struggling with this can use their ideas. One idea that came up at ‘Face to Face’ NRHSN council meeting was for clubs to provide their discipline-specific ideas for events, so that other clubs can use these. • Our third main focus is on providing support structures for clubs and portfolios so that members can put their enthusiasm into their jobs, rather than spending their time learning how a role works. We want to build on the existing club guides produced by individual clubs to make a general NRHSN guide for everyone. We’ve had a pretty exciting year already, and are really enjoying working with so many people who are enthusiastic about rural health. Particular thanks go to the portfolio holders; they do huge amounts of work for the NRHSN, representing us so we can

do the best for members. The first big event for the year was the National Rural Health Conference, in Perth. There was a huge student presence supported by the NRHSN CoNS program and the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA)- who ran the conference. It was great for the students to see the broader picture of rural and remote health and for the professionals to see the enthusiastic students who are keen to go and work in the bush. Amy Stephenson and Teena Downton represent the NRHSN on the NRHA Council and these two did a fantastic job in linking the students up with all the opportunities available at the conference, as well as presenting a paper. We also had paperpresentations from Steph Frazer and Sam Johnson (MARHS), Shannon Nott (RAHMS) and Justin Cain-Bloxsome (SHARP), with Frankie (exec) and Margie Mahon (RHWA Director of Workforce Programs). Well done everyone, you represented the NRHSN very well. While we were in Perth, SPINRPHEX, our oldest club, celebrated their 21st birthday, and it was fantastic to go along and meet with the next generation of rural

health professionals. We’ve just come back from F2F and it was great to have the combination of expertise and new enthusiasm. Some brilliant ideas came out of the discussions and we look forward to working with you to make these become a reality. We also had our portfolio meeting, and there are some exciting things happening, such as the creation of a guide to Indigenous placements and the representation of the NRSHN at the highest levels in rural and remote health, allowing all of us to have a say in what our future workplace will look like. We’ve also been working hard to get the Network’s message out with RHWA Communications Manager Tony Wells. We’ve had articles in newspapers and been on the radio to let people know what we do . We’ve got a media release template, complemented by a media session which was held during March at F2F. We want to give our members the best chance go rural and thrive once they get there.

Yours in rural health,Francesca, Jacinta, Catherine

Francesca, Jacinta, Catherine

Happy 21st Birthday SPINRPHEX. The club combined a training activity with its birthday party. That same week, SPINRPHEX members also joined students from Rural Health Clubs across Australia at the National Rural Health Conference, Perth - made possible through the support of the CoNS program.

NRHSN & Rural Health Workforce AustraliaDr Kim Webber, CEO

It was great to see so many of you involved in Close the Gap day activities last month. Achieving health equality for Indigenous people is an issue that cuts to the core of how we define ourselves as a nation on social justice. An important aspect of this is increasing the workforce in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.Not only do we need to encourage more Indigenous people into the health professions, but we also need to focus on ways of better connecting current health students with Indigenous Australia. The results of a survey we conducted last year at the National University Rural Health Conference in Alice Springs are instructive.Of the 137 students

surveyed, 31% said the provision of cultural training would make it more likely for them to work in Indigenous health. A further 27% wanted to see more support. As a result, Rural Health Workforce Australia will be working with the NRHSN leadership team this year to advocate for more cultural competence training at university so health students have a greater understanding of how to operate effectively and respectfully in Indigenous communities once they graduate. We are also supportive of initiatives to provide more clinical experience working in Indigenous communities.I totally endorse the efforts being made this year to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student membership of the NRHSN.These are all important

steps to help Close the Gap, and I look forward to sharing more updates on our progress in the next edition of Cooee! I’d like to end this column by congratulating our friends at SPINRPHEX – which I’m reliably informed stands for Students and Practitioners Interested iN Health Education Xcetera.They have just celebrated their 21st birthday, making them Australia’s oldest

Rural Health Club. This Perth-based club embodies so much that is positive about the network: a blend of fun, passion and focus. How appropriate to mark the occasion with pizza and a medical stretcher race on the grounds of the University of Western Australia.

Cheers SPINRPHEX and all.

Cultural training will help Close the Gap

Cooee! April 2011What’s on Member and Placement stories Alumni and Adminstrator stories Club reports Portfolio reports

Future Workforce Programs team:Director Helen Murray; helen.murray@rhwa.org.auManager Project Team Kerryn Eccleston; kerryn.eccleston@rhwa.org.au Project Officers: Lauren Castillo and Amanda Fisher; lauren.castillo@rhwa.org.au, amanda.fisher@rhwa.org.au Front page photo by Ashby Redward, National Rural Health Conference

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What are you studying?Medicine, third year, Australian National University—currently on rural placement in Goulburn.Where are you from originally?I was originally born in Sri Lanka in a rural town called Kurunagale. We moved to Australia when I was three and have been living in Cooma, near the Snowy mountains, ever since. Have you studied/had other careers in the past?I have a Bachelor of Philosophy (science) from ANU.If you weren’t studying your current course, what would you be doing?I would definitely become a high school teacher. I love teaching and it’s a big passion of mine. In the future I wish to combine teaching with clinical practice.What attracted you to join your RHC?Having been brought up in the country I know how good country life is. I researched into rural health opportunities before entering Medicine and came across the ARMS website. Looking through that site made me realise the vast number of opportunities available to ANU med students, including clinical contact through rural show visits. What really got me excited was the rural high school visits program. I really wanted to get out there and share my university and medical experience with high school students and encourage them to consider further education. Best rural placement experience?I am having a blast. I am based in Goulburn in my paediatric rotation.Best NRHSN experience?NURHC 2010 was awesome. It was unfortunate that ARMS came in third last in the ‘Golden Windmills’ with our rendition of ‘Phantom of the Opera meets cotton-eye-Joe’. Two members fell off the stage and we were gonged in thirty seconds.

Bud, far right, with ARMS team at Close The Gap event

What are you studying?Nutrition and Dietetics, Final Year, Flinders University.Where have you completed a placement?Alice SpringsWhat did you learn during your placement?I learnt the importance of good planning and flexibility, especially in the remote setting when not only the weather can be unpredictable but also the community you are working with and I also learnt the importance of learning from your mistakes. What were the challenges?I think the biggest challenges for me were overcoming my fear of doing something wrong or offending somebody and also learning to work to someone else’s timeline. What did you most enjoy/ find rewarding?I enjoyed our visits out to the remote schools where we were able to do activities with the students including making ‘Everyday Drinks’ and ‘Sometimes Drinks’ posters and cooking rissoles and salad for them to have for lunch. Words of wisdom for others thinking about a rural career?The biggest thing I’ve learnt is that you will feel so much more supported if you make an effort to become a part of the community. Take opportunities like joining a sports team, a hobby group or even the SES which helps you to make networks outside of work and feel more at home in that place. Where do you hope to work when you finish studying?I’m hoping to do my Diabetes Educator course and a course on renal dietetics which will enable me to follow diabetes from prevention to end stage treatment so that I can work on my own in a small hospital doing everything from clinical inpatients to group education for prevention.

Life on placementAmy Stephenson, FURHS

Our Members Budhima Nanayakkara, ARMS

The new membership database is up and running online for 2011. Thanks everyone who completed the training with Kate last year, or who has undergone the training with Lauren this

year. So far, we’ve had a great response to the database with the number jumping

from 647 in February to 3,190 in April. This is a fantastic effort so far, but we still have a fair way to

go to reach our estimated membership number of 9,000. Go to www.nrhsn.org.au/rhc to find a link to your membership portal.The database will be a great tool for the network and we are looking forward to having everyone connected. Remember to keep your club portals updated and check our other clubs’ pages for ideas. If you know of any past RHC members, they can sign up as Alumni members by following this link: alumni.nrhsn.org.au.

One of the biggest events planned for 2011 is the National Rural Leadership Development Seminar, run in conjunction with the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA). To be held in the Barossa Valley, South Australia in August, the event will enable allied health, nursing and medical students to come together in a truly multi-professional arena, to be provided with specific skills needed to excel in career paths in rural and remote Australia.The NRLDS is designed to be an interactive “hands-on” experience for delegates to gain additional skills to further them as professionals. It will include keynote speakers, workshops and open floor sessions to allow delegates to discuss issues current within rural, remote and Indigenous health. There will be a strong academic program, combined with a comprehensive social program to encourage networking between participants. Applications for the leadership seminar will open shortly.

National Rural Leadership Development Seminar, NRLDS

National Membership and Alumni database

There are some exciting club plans in the works for RHSVs this year. Interclub collaboration is encouraged, as it increases the number of disciplines that students are exposed to, as well as encouraging great inter-club networking and friendships. In 2010 however, there were more collaborations which led to a decreased number of RHSVs overall. We now have a new system which requires RHCs to ‘host’ RHSVs. This is to make sure we reach our targets and as many rural schools as possible to inspire the next generation of health professionals. Each Rural

Rural High School Visits (RHSVs) www.nrhsn-rhsv.org.au

Health Club must ‘host’ at least two Rural High School Visits annually, however clubs are encouraged to participate/ host more if they have the resources to do so (remember your club can apply for Additional Pool of Funding for these activities). Check out the RHSV website for more info: www.nrhsn-rhsv.org.au.A big congratulations to Clare Sutcliffe who is the newly elected RHSV Internal Officer, working with RHWA Project Officer Lauren Castillo, to provide support to students doing RHSVs and improve the program. Email: rhsv@nrhsn.org.au.

Indigenous Festivals www.nrhsn-rhsv.org.au/indigenousfestivals

Planning for Indigenous Festivals is in full swing. There is an inspiring line up of events including Wakakirri, Deadly Days and Vibe Alive from May until September.

Sarah McPherson has been appointed internal Indigenous Festival officer and will be working with Amanda Fisher at RHWA. Event details are as follows:

Wakakirri:20 May, Broken Hill, NSW19 August, Barunga, NT16 September, Ceduna, SADeadly Days:20-22 September —Coffs Harbour, NSWVibe Alive:25-26 May, Bendigo, Vic1-2 June —Townsville, Qld17-18 August, Kalgoolie, WA

For more information about upcoming Indigenous estivals, teleconference planning dates for participants, and related enquiries, contact Amanda Fisher and the Internal Indigenous Festival Officer Sarah McPherson at festivals@nrhsn.org.au or call 03 98604714.

The CoNS program aims to assist students with funds and administration for their flights, conference registration and budget ccommodation to make attending conferences attainable.

Events to consider:10th Biennial Rural and Remote Social Work Conference, Ballarat, VIC, 28-29th July, (Social Work) 2011 Rural Critical Care Conference, Port Macquarie, NSW, 19 -21st August, (Medical)CATSIN 2011 – Nursing Indigenous Conference, TBC, Sept, (Nursing)GP’11- RACGP, Hobart, Tas 8-11th October, (Medical) CRANAplus conference, WA, 11-14th October, (all disc)Allied Health Professional Association Conference 2011, Canberra, ACT, 21 - 23 October, (Allied Health) ACRRM & RDAA Rural Medicine 2011, Alice Springs, NT, 28-30 October, (Medical ) 3rd Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium, Ballarat, VIC, 14-15 Nov, (all disciplines).

What’s on in 2011?

Conferences of National Significance,CoNS www.nrhsn.org.au/cons

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Rural Health Club Administrator

Our Alumni

Where did you go to university, what course did you study?I studied a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at The University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle. Why did you join WAALHIIBE?When I was in first year I signed up to WAALHIIBE during O-week. At the time I didn’t really know what it was all about but after attending a few events realised the benefits of joining.

Liaison Officer and support staff. We work closely as a multi-D team and have fairly regular meetings to discuss clients, where we can express any concerns. How important is it to have people like physiotherapists working in rural areas?I think physiotherapists working in rural areas are crucial. Even with a fairly small population our caseload is endless and we are always run off our feet. We work in all areas across the lifespan covering a large geographical area and I still think if we had more time or staff there would still be plenty to do. Physiotherapists play an important role in health promotion, preventing obesity and diabetes. Any advice for students contemplating a rural health career?You’ll never know if you never go. Rural communities welcome anyone and everyone who want to contribute to their community. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and join a local sporting club or group because that is the way you will meet new people and feel welcomed.

What is your favourite TROHPIQ memory?The future. It’s coming up in the form of the 2011 Joint Rural Health Club weekend in Atherton. The subcommittees from all the Queensland clubs and my colleague Fran Riley have done a great job.

Why are TROHPIQ the best?Well, Queenslanders comes to mind for starters. Joking aside, they are all very dedicated to the rural cause and run events that cater for all disciplines. TROHPIQ run a Skills Day very early in the year and because it is run very professionally the word gets out that it is not to be missed.What keeps you occupied in your spare time?What spare time? I’m still in that taxi driver phase of my life ferrying my two daughters around. Family life, walking my golden retriever Rascal, a bit of tennis and the odd game of golf with my husband keeps me off the streets and out of the shops- and travellingWhat’s the one thing you want the world to know about you?It’s a secret, I’m a country music fan.Words of wisdom?Just try going rural at least once—you may love it. Even if you don’t like it, it will contribute to your understanding of the challenges faced by rural health practitioners.

Gayle Stallard

Daniel Mahony

Where are you working in Katanning (ie. clinic, hospital)?I work as a physiotherapist for WA Country Health Service in Community Health based in the town of Katanning. Katanning is a sheep and wheat town 300kms SE of Perth with a population of 4,500 made up of over 40 nationalities. At the hospital I work in maternity, general ward, accident and emergency, outpatients, community, primary schools, aged care and paediatrics. This is for the towns of Kojonup, Tambellup and Broomehill and everywhere in between. I work with my Senior Physiotherapist and together with a Therapy Assistant we make up the Physiotherapy Department.Is there any multi-disciplinary or inter-professional work involved?I am currently sharing a house with a Speech Pathologist and a Dietician. I also work closely with the nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, midwives, a social worker, therapy assistants, a mental health nurse, and a discharge planning nurse, Aboriginal Health Workers, a Muslim

What do you do at Health Workforce Queensland?I work in the Student Initiatives Team and part of my role is TROHPIQ Administrator. I also help the Senior Project Officer with administration for other programs including the Health Careers in the Bush and RHSV program. I regularly update a resource we have that lists all health related courses at universities and TAFE colleges in Queensland, including entrance scores.How long have you been involved with TROHPIQ? Three years. Every year has been different as the needs of each executive committee changes.Best rural experience? Possibly a weekend many years ago at the Mountain Cattleman’s Cup in Omeo, Victoria. My most vivid memory of this weekend was sitting on a camp chair in a cold running stream with the tinnies cooling down in the stream. A Bachelor and Spinster Ball at Moree, NSW comes close.

Budhima Nanayakkara

our new first year members, greatly benefit from the almost immediate clinical exposure. We also urge other clubs to look out for the Pitstop program, run by Royal Flying Doctor Service, currently being rolled out Australia wide.The extensive social club calendar continues with the ARMS ski trip, the bush dance with ‘Close the Gap’ ceremony, more rural shows and RHSVs and our annual academic speaker night with rural doctors.

BREAATHHE:University ofNewcastle, NSW

AURHA committee

AURHA: Adelaide University,

SA

ARMS:AustralianNational

University, ACT

AWAIRH: La Trobe University,Wodonga, VIC

What a busy year it has already been, with still plenty of club events to look forward to. One of the greatest strengths of our club is our extensive rural shows.Medical students, especially

‘When the cowpat hits the windmill’ has taken on a new meaning for AWAIRH members.We asked how can we incorporate our rural

health manifesto into our promotion? Inspiration hit - or rather, ‘the cowpat hit the windmill’. It finished up as throwing ‘cowpats’ at a windmill for stress relief.AWAIRH also hosted a BBQ , launched AWAIRH’s inaugural Cupcake Decorating Competition and held a presentation for International Women’s Day. Other events coming up are Close the Gap and Vinnie’s Friday 13th Ball.

We consist of approximately 300 members from a range of health disciplines including; Biomedical Science, Medicine, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Oral Health, Podiatry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Radiation Sciences, Speech Pathology and Social Work. This year we would like to welcome all of our new members from across this diverse range and look forward to seeing what influences they bring to the club over the

coming year. BREAATHHE is anticipating hosting many social and educational events throughout the year. This year some of these will include; the BREAATHHE ‘Skills Night’ in May, our Welcome Event, Rural High School Visits and a wineries tour of the Hunter Valley. Collaboration with other Rural Health Clubs and societies at the university such as MedSoc, Valley to Coast and the GP Club is one of our main objectives for 2011. BREAATHHE is also hoping to promote student attendance at conferences. The club also continues to proudly support schemes such as RAMUS and the John Flynn Placement Program, hosting a welcome dinner. We held our AGM on 24 March.

We’re back with a vengeance in 2011 with newly elected co-presidents Bree Kirkham (medicine) and Jiao Li (dentistry).Monday 28th February marked the date of our very first event for the year, the Welcome Barbecue. With the great number of ‘sign ups’ from medicine this year—it was fantastic as per normal—but one of our goals this year is to increase the multi-disciplinary involvement of our members. Our elected Multi-disciplinary representatives Laura (Dentistry), Ash (Dentistry), Asha (Nursing)

and Carly (Psychology) are all super-keen and ready to spread the word about rural health. Our committee at AURHA this year is bigger than ever, with 22 members including our executive.Welcome to our new administrator, Yvonne, who fits the club like a glove, and has been a huge support even for the few short months of the start of this year. She has already proven to be indispensable. AURHA has both existing and new events planned in the next few months. Dinner Under the Stars—our annual stellar student networking event on 6 May— will be held in a mystery location. We are sending students to the Royal Flying Doctor Service Orientation Barbecue, we also have Rural High School Visits and clinical skills trips planned for members.ARMS members garnered support for the Close The Gap campaign

AWAIRH targeted new members with their windmill competition

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CRANC:University of Canberra, ACT

BUSHFIRE: Bond University, QLD

FURHS: FlindersUniversity, SA

Brodie Quinn

HOPE4HEALTH:Griffith University,

WA

BUSHFIRE members were privileged to attend the rural awareness dinner in Toowoomba. Then the club took part in a planning weekend at Stanthorpe with HOPE4HEALTH.Some of our club members have been on rural placements including Charleville, Roma, Wujal Wujal and Mossman in North Queensland. Whilst Roma was not affected by the floods this time, all the roads were cut and there was no food or fuel. The navy and defence forces were based in Roma and there was much excitement

in the air. Students had the opportunity to serve with the RFDS and flying specialists. A typical road journey to Surat turned into a boat, truck and chopper flight.BUSHFIRE is continuing to run the advanced cardiac life support program co-ordinated by our wonderful clinical skills officer. Members of our executive have been to Perth and Melbourne for a conference and meetings. Many of our members have been busy working on the various committees preparing for the Midnight Muster in March and the Joint Rural Health Clubs clinical skills weekend. Students are also busily preparing their presentations for selection to present at the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland conference.

CRANC is gearing up for a massive and awesome year ahead with many events planned. First we would like to announce that our club membership has doubled in size since the executive were elected in August 2010.We now have over 130 members. The membership has largely grown through the pharmacy and nursing disciplines.The executive are currently going through the 2011 elections.The first major event of the year is RAW Surf. It is

a conference on mental health, held over a weekend. This conference has attracted speakers such as Professor Patrick McGorry—2010 Australian of the Year, Pam Burridge— former World Surfing champion, and other leaders in rural mental health.This conference has attracted students from rural health clubs around Australia. This event will be taking place over a weekend in April 2011 in the wonderful setting of Murramarang on the NSW South Coast.Since the success of the Remote Emergency Course (REC) last year both CRANC and NOMAD will be running a joint venture and hosting another REC in June. Finally, CRANAplus has given us the fantastic opportunity to pilot the Maternity Emergency Course (MEC) for undergraduate students.

So far, 2011 has been a great year. We’ve recruited a record number of new volunteers—with nearly all first year medical students and 200 nursing and many

allied health students signing up. FURHS hosted a great pub night at the Woolshed on 4 March, and we have elected members for the new committee.Further events coming up include Wilderness First Aid night, Whyalla Allied Health trip and Rural High School Visits in the Hills Mallee area and Mount Gambier.Campfire will be held in September with FURHS, AURHA and ROUSTAH.

This year will mark the completion of HOPE4HEALTH’s Hospital that we’ve helped build in Ghana—we hope to see some senior medical

students undertaking clinical placements there. We will also be holding three rural skills weekends, a rural dental trip to Goondiwindi and H4H’s Cherbourg dental clinic.Other events coming up include our Rural Awareness Dinner, two RHSVs, ‘Close the Gap’ day and the Deadly Days festival and our Teddy Bear Hospital and Health Careers Day for school children living in Cherbourg.

Rural High School Visit, Yakalilla, August 2010 HOPE4HEALTH have a strong following in 2011

KRASH:Notre DameUniversity, WA

MARHS: Charles Sturt University,

Albury, NSW

Jess Hill

LARHC:La TrobeUniversity, VIC

MIRAGE:University of Sydney, NSW

Naomi Henderson

Jason Mak, Simon Reid Chloe Abbott

LARHC is off to a flying start for 2011.After our database training, the website has gone under complete renovation-visit larhc.nrhsn.org.au.

The first few weeks were busy getting students signed up at enrolment days and the O week festival. This included a free BBQ on March 8. The main social event of the semester was held on 22 March— a touch of Red Cocktail party. Plans for the rest of semester aim to be more community and educational orientated, with Rural High School Visits and Mental Health First Aid courses dominating.

MIRAGE ended 2010 on a high note after some really great rural health events. The annual rural health night held in October was a success and the Rural Rubix

Rumble Cruise on Sydney Harbour was an outrageous success with members from SHARP, BREAATHHE and RAHMS attending. MIRAGE’s vision for 2011 is to continue to expand, especially in nursing and allied health. Most importantly MIRAGE will continue to facilitate members to have amazing rural and remote experiences and to have a lot of fun along the way.

There is a new structure and new start for KRASH in 2011. We started the year with a stall at the University of Notre Dame O-Day. There are big things in the works

with an event for Close the Gap and a mentoring program targeted at 16-17 year old Indigenous males. KRASH are looking to approach a similar workshop for Indigenous females for high school students in second semester. Other plans include attending the North-West expo and career days and attending Indigenous Festivals. Our major goal is to partake in at least four RHSVs across the Kimberley.

Only four weeks into the university year and MARHS had already achieved a lot. MARHS members—and our anatomical manikin Jiiggly Jo—gave the first year

students a big welcome. The club will be organising Rural High School Visits, a trip to an Indigenous festival and subsidising a Mental Health First Aid course. On top of this, plans are underway for a mental health trivia night. MARHS is also hoping to start a mentoring program with a local high school. MARHS will again host a Close the Gap Ceremony followed by the very popular bush ball.

Naomi and Don are working to expand KRASH Anita and Sam promote LARHC

O’Week began with twister for MARHS Rural Rubix Rumble cruise added colour to the MIRAGE calendar in 2011

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NOMAD: Deakin University, VIC

NOMAD has been lucky to be able to hit the ground running this year. This is in no small part due to the great work of the executive from last year and all the

NERCHA:University of New England, aaaaaaa NSW

RAHMS: University of NSW

Hanna Grimson and Nathan Mortimer

OUTLOOK : University of Melbourne, VIC

RAHMS took the opportunity at UNSW O-Week to promote rural health to the medical and allied health students.We welcomed first year medical students with presentations on RAHMS,

Rural Appreciation Weekend (RAW) and opportunities available to those interested in rural health. We also renewed our efforts to transition members onto our new database.Further upcoming events include our ‘meet and greet’, clinical skills evening, Close the Gap day, RAW, Rural High School Visits, information sessions, Indigenous Festivals, mental health awareness nights and many more events.

NERCHA is looking to the promise of an exciting and rewarding 2011, following the successes of 2010. Our first action of the year was holding a stand in our orientation week. This saw the addition of a large number of new members to the group, spanning from a wide range of different areas in health.NERCHA has sparked an interest with UNE’s new student population and we are looking forward to their involvement and contributions during the year. Orientation week was

followed by a ‘Welcome BBQ’ for all health students. The event was a great success with health students from different years and different degrees coming together. It also enabled the executive members to meet the new health students and chat more about NERCHA in a relaxed atmosphere.Wednesday 9 March was UNE’s Close the Gap day, with UNE’s global health group ASPIRE, guest speaker Debra Bennel, from the Oorala Aboriginal centre, hand prints on a mural and the club raised over $750.Later, we will be holding a movie night, the election of our first year junior executive, and other exciting ideas are on the cards. This includes the annual Rural Health Hoedown and interactions with Hunter New England Health.

The team at Outlook are looking forward to lots of exciting events in 2011. With the first year of the new MD students starting medicine, and new members from physio,

dentistry, nursing and social work, we had a busy O-week, and are continuing to promote Outlook and our events to students from all disciplines. Out first big events for 2011 included the Pleasant Friday Afternoon for the CFA near Baynton and Close the Gap film night, screening Samson and Delilah. Catherine Ryan was also able to attend the 11th National Rural Health Conference in Perth.

effort and enthusiasm they put in. The focus for NOMAD this year is a greater involvement of allied health students.Our first event for the year was a lawn bowls night at Torquay. NOMAD has been busy with Rural High School Visits. Already, the club has held seven sessions for close to 400 students. Other events planned include a D.O.G Walk.

RAHMS take a stand to attract new membersFood and events bring new members to OUTLOOK

NOMAD sign up a new round of members in 2011

In the wake of cyclone Yasi, Club RHINO has kicked off with a big start to the year. We have had O-Week market day stalls and our first ever “Save a Horse, Ride a Rhino” Safari themed Members Launch Party.Planning is well underway for our first Multidisciplinary Skills Night and Rural High School Visit to be held in April. We are looking forward to showing our southern cousins the best of rural health in the tropics during the upcoming Joint Rural Health Club Weekend (Atherton) and the Rural

ROUSTAH have started out 2011 with much enthusiasm and a lot of great events to look forward to. The committee were out in force at the UniSA O Week festivities, making sure that each and every one of the new first-years knew what ROUSTAH was about —and just how awesome it is. With the help of our infamous “stress chickens” that we gave out to new members to promote ROUSTAH, everyone was keen to get involved. Who could possibly resist a stress ball in the shape of a chicken, especially one

RHINO: James Cook University, aaaaaaaaaaQLD

Ebonney Jackson

RHUUWS:Universityof Western Sydney,

NSW

ROUNDS:Notre DameUniversity, NSW

ROUSTAH: University of South aaaa Australia, SA

Yolanda Smith

Doctors Association of Queensland Conference (Cairns). Other events on the horizon for RHINO members this year are the Laura Dance and Vibe Alive Festivals, our Multidisciplinary Social Night, Annual Gala Evening and our Rural Appreciation Weekend.We are proud to announce the formal expansion of Club RHINO to include a Cairns specific subcommittee with the creation of five new committee positions. Groundbreaking work by these fearless RHINO members has seen our Cairns membership grow by 50+ in a few short months. In time we hope to offer a full range of RHINO activities in both centres. Notwithstanding natural disasters, 2011 is certainly shaping up to be a year to remember for Club RHINO and its members.

RHUUWS had an event-packed year in 2010—with more to follow in 2011. Highlights include the annual RHUUWS Clues trivia night and a hugely successful NAIDOC event, and sending members on several Rural High School Visits including Lightning Ridge and Port Macquarie.The trivia night brought together RHUUWS members for an evening of brain-wracking fun, scrumptious finger food and beverages. As always, it was a great night, with members from various disciplines coming together to battle it out for

our highly-sought-after prize pool.Our NAIDOC event was a new addition to the calendar and was very warmly received by both staff and students. It involved a BBQ with Aussie meats such as kangaroo and crocodile, and those in attendance were treated to a talk from a local elder.Several of our members travelled to the sunshine of Port Macquarie to speak to students at Port Macquarie High School and Mackillop Senior College, while another group of RHUUWS members headed to the shire of Walgett, in conjunction with SHARP. This year we have a new batch of physio students at UWS.We look forward to having another arm of the healthcare community being involved in the cause—-the more the merrier.

with ROUSTAH on it? People were so eager to join, we even had a few advertising and marketing students accidentally sign up. We continued to promote ROUSTAH and the new membership scheme at U Week, to the students from all the different years. U Week provided a great opportunity to let students who will be doing a placement in the near future learn about the support available to them through ROUSTAH.This year ROUSTAH started a new program called the Community Release Pack. This is designed for students undertaking a rural placement and involves helping them to feel included in the community where they will be living by letting organisations, such as Rotary know that they will be there.

ROUNDS members are in for a treat with the rural health committee hitting the ground running in their preparation to hold some of the best events in our club’s history. We have introduced

the inaugural Rural Health Lecture Series, with the first focussing on careers in rural health. Further events include Close the Gap day, botanical garden visits, Rural High School Visits, Indigenous Festivals, Cowra Mental Health First Aid Weekend and Picnic Races, the second and third instalment of our Rural Health Lecture series, the 2nd Year Bachelor and Spinster Ball and an open air theatre.

ROUNDS’s Rural Health Lecture series takes off

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to attending national conferences. Each event raised awareness and understanding of rural, remote and Indigenous health issues and inspired us all to consider rural practice. We finished off the year—once again—winning the award for Wollongong University’s Club of the Year. SHARP has kicked off with a great start in 2011. A few great events are already under our belts and there is a calendar of events ahead.

Happy Birthday to us!SPINRPHEX is very excited this year as we finally have come of age. It marks the transition from teenager to adult and setting our sights on the future. We are

Rustica: University of Tasmania, TAS

StARRH: Charles Darwin University, NT

SHARP: University of Wollongong, NSW

SPINRPHEX: University of WA

The year is off to a great start for Rustica with members joining up at Society Days, Welcome BBQs and the Hobart Welcome Dinner. The focus is on creating a more multidisciplinary club and we have been delighted to welcome many paramedics and pharmacy students to Rustica this year. Society Days were held in both Hobart and Launceston. Many new members have made suggestions for events for 2011 and we are looking forward to organising some of these events throughout

the year. The UTas Rural Clinical School in Burnie welcomed students to the 2011 academic year with a BBQ. This was well attended and was a great opportunity for Burnie students to get to know each other. Other events such as this will be held throughout the year. The Hobart Welcome Dinner was held on 11 March at Hotel Soho. This was attended by students from all health disciplines and was an opportunity for both new and older students to enjoy a meal together. Everyone who attended had a great time. The rest of 2011 promises to be exciting with skills nights, dinners and BBQ’s planned for Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. Students will go interstate for Indigenous Festivals, conferences and other events.

In 2010 SHARP had a bumper year with over 600 members participating in over 30 events. These events ranged from activities on campus, rural trips, community events,

proud to say that WA had the first rural health club for medical students in the country thanks to the hard work of senior doctors at the time who took notice and questioned ‘what about the rural and remote community?’ One of their answers was ‘us’. We the students, to get together to form a Rural Health Club to promote rural and remote health to fledgling doctors, dentists, nurses and allied health people in the hope that we will inspire others.

StARRH has organised a whole year of exciting activities, which began at O’day on 23 February. Medical students were treated to a “Welcome to Darwin” at the Beachfront

Hotel, organised by our medical representative. This year marks the beginning of the first medical degree available in the Northern Territory. Guest speaker events so far have included Andrew (Robbo) Roberts from the Jameson community, WA, and the Healthy School Aged Kids program, NT.Members visited the Tiwi Islands for a football grand final and arts sale event and the club held a Close the Gap Day.

SHARP members drum up support

Sally (centre) with speakers for Healthy School Aged Kids programSPINRPHEX combine a skills event with their celebration.

WAALHIIBE: Combined WA Universities, WA

Katherine Humphreys

WARRIAHS: Charles Sturt University, NSW

TROHPIQ: University of Queensland, QLD

Louise Luong

WILDFIRE: MonashUniversity, VIC

TROHPIQ’s year was off to a roaring start with the launch of a website makeover and a new Facebook page.A shiny new executive was elected —and events kicked off with the ‘Welcome Back

BBQ’ in January on both the St. Lucia and Ipswich campuses. Dual raffles and a bake sale were held to support the rebuilding and restocking of UQ’s rural clinical schools after the devastating floods.The first of several TROHPIQ skills day of 2011 proved to be a resounding success. The now-famous Fraser Coast Trip saw a mob of TROHPIQers head up to the Wide Bay area and combine skills development activities with seeing some sights.

We succeeded in starting 2011 with a big bang with approximately 170 members joining at Clubs Day. Upcoming educational events include a First Aid Course, Mental Health First

Aid Course, Cadaver trip to Albury CSU and Professional Development Nights just to name a few. This year we are implementing our “Rural Experience Night”and as always, we will be hosting the WARRIAHS health expo and inviting high school students from the Riverina region. Also on the calendar for 2011, we will hold a commencement dinner, fundraisers, monthly ‘meet and greet’ events and our famous Winter Ball.

We have hit the ground hopping in 2011 - after a successful 2010.Opportunities include speakers and weekends in remote Western Australia, our annual Multi-D Night

and our Rural Health Conference with SPINRPHEX. The year began with a planning day with SPINRPHEX and a successful week of O’Days, promoting our club to allied health students at every university in Perth. We were lucky to have Kununurra GP, Dr Abby Harwood, speak at our event when she was in Perth for the National Rural Health Conference.Finally, our mascot wallaby has been named—Wallace.

Another year started in style for WILDFIRE Clayton during O Week 2011. Our stall at the Orientation carnival and MedFest got plenty of interested visitors.Over 60 WILDFIRE members

came to ‘Get Plastered at Dooley’s’, with more new members signing up at the door. Plans include a trivia night for the Close the Gap campaign to be held in Gippsland, the highlight of the year is expected to be our 16th Matthew Campbell Memorial Evening in May.Later to come, ideas include a ski trip combined with health workshop and we hope to reach a new Rural High School Visit milestone for the club.

TROHPIQ members hit the Fraser Coast Rural High School Visit

Thumbs up for plastering at DooleysWARRIAHS members explore the great outdoors

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Emily Dalton is the junior representative and Kim Izod is the senior representative for the Nursing Portfolio. We are both from rural areas, completing our third year of nursing. We are both passionate about improving rural health and strengthening the student nurse voice within the NRHSN and with our stakeholders.Already this year we have been busy with a number of portfolio teleconferences and represented the nursing voice at the NRHSN council Face to Face meeting in March, and there is plenty more planned for the rest of the year.The three main goals outlined for the year are focused on offering our nursing members more and strengthening their voice. The first goal is to maintain regular contact with our nursing members, keeping them informed about what is happening and how they can help. One of the ways we plan to achieve this goal is by creating a monthly newsletter, packed full of helpful and interesting nursing information. The second goal is to offer our nursing members more, by actively searching for nursing related conferences, seminars, workshops and events. Goal three is to strengthen the portfolio’s relationship with our stakeholders by maintaining regular contact with them and putting forward a strong voice that accurately represents the views of our members.This year we are also looking forward to celebrating International Nurses Day on 12 May and meeting our members at the CRANAplus conference in October, among many other events.If you want more information about the nursing portfolio, have any great ideas or want to help out please contact us. Email: nursing@nrhsn.org.au.

Indigenous Health Portfolio

Nursing Portfolio

Community and Advocacy Portfolio

The NRHSN Community and Advocacy Portfolio is made up of a down-to-earth and hugely passionate team. We are here to represent the views and enthusiasm of NRHSN members to key stakeholders including the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA).The Portfolio comprises of Senior Reps, Amy Stephenson and Chris Timms, and Junior Reps, Teena Downton and Al Dyason. Amy is a 4th Year nutrition and dietetics student and immediate past Allied Health Co-Chair of FURHS. Chris is a 4th year medical student and President of RAHMS. Teena is a 3rd year medical student from SHARP, and Al is a 1st year medical student from RHUUWS, OT graduate and immediate past Vice-President of MARHS.This year, Amy is our NRHSN representative on the NRHA Council and is working closely with Teena on Alliance activities on behalf of the Network. As well our external work with stakeholders, our team is also undertaking activities this year, led by Chris and Al, to increase the advocacy skills of NRHSN members and support broader advocacy on issues that matter to health students such as optimising rural placements. Already the year has been busy for our portfolio. Teena joined the NRHA Council in Canberra, meeting with MPs Nicola Roxon, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, to discuss current health reforms. This included presenting a Paper to the Alliance highlighting five key issues for health students. Amy, Teena and Al were among the strong student presence at the recent National Rural Health Conference in Perth. Amy was signficantly involved with organising the conference which had more than 100 students involved with presenting, scribing and chairing sessions.The other major activity has been a meeting with Chris and Al and the NSW Shadow Minister for Health.Email: advocacy@nrhsn.org.au

Did you know that Justin and Annalyse have managed to fit in trips to Canberra, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney to plug the NRHSN and Indigenous Health all in one month? They have also successfully juggled busy university schedules, and medical emergencies on flights to Perth and lost count of how many times they have been asked: “Why are you interested in Indigenous Health”?The simple answer to the above question is: all Australians should be interested and involved in Indigenous health. We are interested in our own health, family and community.‘Close the Gap’ day on 24 March focuses this year on enhancing the Indigenous health workforce, you should strive to get Indigenous students involved in your Rural Health Club. Justin represented SHARP at the ARMS ‘Close the Gap’ day event in Canberra and Annalyse attended the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA) SRC meeting and took part in a review of the Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework with Indigenous medical students from around Australia.For the first time at the NRHSN Face to Face meeting, Justin and Annalyse delivered a cultural awareness presentation. It is hoped that every club will organise a cultural awareness session with the assistance of local Indigenous people in your community. Email: indigenous_health@nrhsn.org.au.

Amy Stephenson, Chris Timms, Teena Downton, Al Dyason

Emily Dalton and Kim IzodAnnalyse Crane and Justin Cain-Bloxsome

Justin with Tom Calma at the National Rural Health Conference, Perth

Medical Portfolio

Allied Health Portfolio

The start of a new year has brought new blood into the medical portfolio, and we are very excited to get moving. We welcome back Tim Hasted and Nicole Delaat (our two senior officers), and introduce Matthew Irwin and Melinda Swan (our two junior officers).It is going to be a busy year for the medical portfolio. The main project is to provide a guide containing information to students looking for opportunities to train and work as a rural specialist nationwide. It will include a snapshot of the opportunities available now and into the future, what to expect out of a rural town, where best to look for information, support and professional development opportunities and what “a day in the life” of a rural doctor is all about. Most importantly, the guide will seek to highlight how rewarding a specialist career in the bush can be.This project is in answer to concerns raised by the medical student contingent of the NRHSN over the past couple of years. The portfolio was hearing that medical students did not know what opportunities are available in the bush or where to look to gather this information.We would like to thank and recognise the medical portfolio officers for 2010, who have now moved on to greener pastures – Teena Downton and David Khaicy. They have made some vital connections with various professional bodies and released well thought out and realistic position papers on behalf of the NRHSN. Importantly, they have collected your views on what you want to know about rural careers—without this information we would not be able to focus our main project for the year. Should you have any questions for the medical portfolio or suggestions concerning our goals for 2011.Email: medical@nrhsn.org.au.

David is a final year pharmacy student at La Trobe University, Bendigo. David will be working to increase the number of allied health members in rural health clubs. David is also the president for LARHC and a NUS delegate for the Bendigo Students Association.

Ben is a 2nd year pharmacy student from the University of New England, Armidale. Ben is keen to work for all allied health students in showcasing what scholarships, opportunities and support one can get for working in a rural and remote area. He will work with Dave to continue this. Ben is also the Pharmacy rep and the junior NRHSN rep for NERCHA.

Tim Hasted, Nicole Delaat, Matthew Irwin, Melinda Swan

Dave Tarrant, Beth Viner Smith, Ilana Jorgensen, Ben Crough, Lindsay Dundon, Kristy McGregor

Beth is a final year nutrition and dietetics student at Flinders University, SA. Beth’s role in the allied health portfolio is to ensure the NRHSN continues to uphold its relationships with various allied health stakeholders in addition to building new relationships with other allied health professional bodies.

Ilana is a final year nutrition and dietetics student at Flinders University, SA. She is interested in increasing the number of allied health members and scholarship opportunities. Ilana will work closely with SARRAH.

Lindsay is a 2nd year occupational therapy student at Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW. Lindsay is actively involved in the MARHS Club and is the Vice President of his Uni’s SRC. As a part of the allied health portfolio Lindsay will work with Beth to strengthen and uphold the NRHSN’s relationships with allied health stakeholders as well as creating new ties with other allied health professions in order to continue to promote allied health.

Kristy McGregor is a 2nd year social work student who is studying externally through Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga. Kristy divides her time between university and working on a cattle station in QLD. Kristy is a passionate advocate for rural affairs, and community development.Email: alliedhealth@nrhsn.org.au

Dave Tarrant, Co-Senior Allied Health Liaison Officer

Beth Viner Smith, Co-Senior Allied Health Liaison Officer

Ilana Jorgensen, Co-Senior Allied Health Liaison Officer

Ben Crough Co-Junior Allied Health Liaison Officer

Lindsay Dundon, Co-Junior Allied Health Liaison Officer

Kristy McGregor, Co-Junior Allied Health Liaison Officer

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The National Rural Health Students’ Network is supported by financial assistance from the Australian Government.

The National Rural Health Students’ Network is proudly managed and supported by Rural Health Workforce Australia.

www.rhwa.org.au

Rural Health Workforce Australia National Rural Health Students’ Network Suite 2, Level 5, 10 Queens Road Melbourne Vic 3004 Australia

www.nrhsn.org.au

Telephone 03 9860 4700 Facsimile 03 9820 8383 Email info@nrhsn.org.au

If you would like to recieve additional copies of the Cowpat, the Rural Placements Guide or

the Wide Horizons DVD please email us at info@nrhsn.org.au