Northern Territory’s first home-grown doctors graduate with Flinders University The first doctors to be educated entirely in the Northern Territory graduated at a Flinders University ceremony in Darwin in December 2014. Eight completing medical students, members of the first intake into the full four-year Flinders University Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP) in 2011, received their degrees from Chancellor Stephen Gerlach at the Darwin Convention Centre. Graduating student, Dr Kane Vellar, was honoured to be the first Indigenous graduate from the NTMP. Dr Vellar commenced his intern placement at the Royal Darwin Hospital in January 2015. Professor Michael Barber attended the ceremony as one of his last duties as ViceChancellor, and noted that the graduation was a significant event for the whole Northern Territory. “These graduations mark a new era for health services in the Territory, and Flinders University is very proud of its role in enabling this self-sufficiency in medical education in the Northern Territory,” Professor Barber said. Professor Barber said the capacity to offer the full graduate medical degree in the NT
March 2015
was the result of an extraordinary level of support and collaboration. “This initiative has enjoyed strong bipartisan support from both Federal and Northern Territory governments, and the provision of generous infrastructure funding has allowed Flinders to create world-class facilities for the various premises of Northern Territory Rural Clinical School, as well as a new dedicated building for teaching medicine in Darwin,” he said. “Flinders’ close collaboration with Charles Darwin University has also been integral to our success.” Graduates of the course are committed to spend two years working in the Territory, and it is anticipated that many will pursue their careers there. Several other students from the initial intake who are studying part-time or who have paused in their studies will graduate in the next two years. While based initially in Darwin, NTMP students can spend much of their third and fourth years of study in community settings across the Territory. The Northern Territory Remote Clinical School operates in Nhulunbuy, Alice Springs, Katherine and
Dr Kane Vellar graduated from the Flinders University Doctor of Medicine in December 2014 Tennant Creek to provide training in rural and remote health care that is especially attuned to the needs of Aboriginal Australians. Preference for entry to the NTMP is given to Indigenous students and to Territory residents, with numbers of applications and competition for places increasing each year. An entry path for schoolleavers has also been set up as a double degree with CDU, and includes quota places for Indigenous students.
Back row: The first graduating cohort from the Flinders University Northern Territory Medical Program Front row: The Members of the Flinders University Academic Procession
Education in Focus From the Executive Dean
A Summer Scholarship in Nutrition and Dietetics This summer I chose to end my holidays early and pursue a project at Flinders University. I was lucky enough to be a recipient of a Summer Scholarship for the five week project I selected to work on. Early in January I arrived at university with little expectations of what the next five weeks held for me but I was eager to learn and hopeful that this would continue to fuel my passion for my chosen field of study.
Welcome to the first issue of Education in Focus for 2015. In this issue we are celebrating significant milestones for the Faculty — the first international student to graduate from the Graduate Certificate in Global Point-of-Care Testing, an increased quota for Flinders University graduates into Medicine and the graduation ceremony for the first cohort from the Northern Territory Medical Program—which I was privileged to attend in December. We highlight a new double degree, the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Life Sciences)/Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health Practice. This is an important and relevant coupling, offering some novel online training in the fourth year. And read about the rewarding experiences of a student during her Nutrition and Dietetics Summer Scholarship. I hope these stories inspire and challenge you to continue to bring innovation to the teaching and learning space this year. Professor Michael Kidd AM Executive Dean Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Flinders University
The project I was assisting on is a current PhD study investigating malnutrition in vascular surgery patients and whether the current screening tools and services applied in the Flinders Medical Centre were appropriate and meeting the needs of the patients.
I would highly recommend a summer research scholarship to all students as it has allowed me to apply the skills I have learnt at university to practical situations and has made me feel confident in a hospital environment with patients and colleagues, prior to undertaking placements.
I could not have applied for a better project as I was based on a ward with a research dietitian, with frequent patient contact for five weeks. I loved how dietetics research wasn’t just books and data entry and that communication with the patient and other health professionals was essential. However, I learnt that reviewing literature and data entry and analysis is also a crucial part of research and study.
I feel I will now be able to learn more whilst on placements now I have developed pre-existing skills and am eager to get out into the field. I am extremely appreciative of the opportunities Flinders University continues to provide to its students and would encourage all those eager to further understand their chosen field of study to apply and take all opportunities the university presents them with.
The experience exceeded my expectations as my supervisor was always encouraging me to do more, ask questions and to expand on my existing skills. I was able to approach and recruit patients to partake in the study, collect some of the data and communicate with other health professionals on the ward.
Matilda Smale is a third year Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics student. The PhD project was ‘Malnutrition in vascular patients.’ Her supervisor was Jolene Thomson, with Jenni Suen (Honours student).
Increased opportunity for our graduates to study Medicine Effective from 2015, Flinders is introducing new opportunities for our graduates to study Medicine, with up to 75 percent of places being reserved for Flinders graduates who meet the admission requirements. In addition to the 25 places in the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences/Doctor of Medicine pathway, places will be reserved for: Up to 25 graduates of the Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Medical Science and the Bachelor of Paramedic Science, and Up to 33 graduates of any Flinders degree Flinders will maintain approximately 25% of places for domestic graduates of an
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My summer scholarship experience was extremely rewarding as I was able to gain an early understanding of how dietetic research and practice in a clinical setting occurs. The project opened my eyes to possibilities for my future that I had not previously considered and I am confident that I will continue further study within the health sector.
Australian University or other tertiary institution of an equivalent standard. This equates to at least 28 places available for non-Flinders graduates in any year. Furthermore, from 2015, prospective Flinders University graduate entry medical students will need to apply directly to Flinders, rather than via the Graduate Entry Medical Schools Admissions System (GEMSAS). Graduate entry applications will open on 24 April 2015 and close on 2 June 2015. For further details, including admission requirements and application opening and closing dates, visit the Flinders medical course website – flinders.edu.au/ medicine/sites/medical-course.
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
New double degree in BHS (Life Sciences)/ Grad Dip Environmental Health Practice The disciplines of public and environmental health are the unsung heroes of improved health and longevity in Australia. It is estimated that 80% of the 20 years longer that Australians now live, compared with 100 years ago, comes from public health interventions – clean water, vaccination, and adequate housing. In recognition of the importance of public and environmental heath, South Australia now has a new Public Health Act, which requires that all local government councils develop – and act on – public health plans. Responding to this, the Faculty of Health Sciences, in collaboration with the School of the Environment, is now offering a four year combined Bachelor of Health Sciences (Life Sciences) major in Public and Environmental Health + Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health Practice. This award qualifies graduates to practice as environmental health officers, who are responsible for making sure we don’t get food poisoning when we eat in restaurants, catch a bug when we swim in public swimming pools or contract a blood borne illness when we get a tattoo. The award also gives students a strong grounding in public health, giving them skills to develop public health plans and policy that ensures improvements in health continue.
“The staff were fantastic. They were really in touch with the students and encouraged me to push myself academically and inspired me to continue my studies to prove what I’m capable of to myself. Flinders prepared me for employment as a health professional, and the work experience I undertook helped me to be successful in securing my graduate position as an environmental health officer, working in health protection at the Department for Health and Ageing.” Siobhan Finney recent graduate from the BHS (Life Sciences) and the Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health Practice
The three year undergraduate component of the degree provides students with the necessary 18 units of science for entry into year 4 as well as a solid grounding in public health. The fourth year Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health Practice is delivered fully online in real time so that students can engage synchronously with the lecturers.
Above: An example of online training Right: Environmental Health students
Laboratories are also undertaken online and are delivered as problem-based learning activities in the form of games, with rewards and immediate real time feedback. Students are taught to use social media to protect public health in emergency situations using a Flinders first – a social media site developed for this learning activity. Students are taught evidence collection and investigative techniques in a virtual world – Second Life. Students undertake group work and peer to peer learning – also fully online. All this can be done from the comfort of their home in their pyjamas or from an internet café in Paris. kirstin.ross@flinders.edu.au eileen.willis@flinders.edu.au
“The fact that I could study two things that I was so interested in and that has lots of great career options and different study paths is what inspired me to complete this double degree. It also gives me many more options to live an interesting and adventurous life.” Mckeeley Pfitzner who started her studies in the BHS (Life Sciences) and the Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health Practice in 2015
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Education in Focus
Namibian scientist first international Point-of-Care Testing graduate A medical laboratory scientist from Namibia has become the first international student to complete a Graduate Certificate at Flinders University’s International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing. Douglas Chiwara, who is employed by the Namibia Institute of Pathology, said that he will use his knowledge to train his colleagues and expand his country’s capability in this crucial area. The Graduate Certificate in Global Point -of-Care Testing is a fully online oneyear, part-time course, that provides advanced knowledge and specialist skills in point-of-care testing (POCT). It is the only postgraduate academic qualification in POCT available throughout the university sector globally. Namibia, in southern Africa, has significant difficulties with access to health services for people living in isolated communities. The Namibia Institute of Pathology, where Mr Chiwara works, is responsible for
providing medical diagnostic testing across the country. Namibia has a limited number of medical laboratories and many rural and remote health facilities are too far away from a medical laboratory to be able to access quality and timely diagnostic results. Many of the delays in receiving results are due to the lack of transport to and from remote areas. Not being able to get timely results has a negative effect on patient outcomes, especially in the clinical management and treatment of patients with diseases such as malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS. “Point-of-Care Testing was identified as one strategy that would bring diagnostic services closer to people, especially those in isolated locations,” Mr Chiwara said. “The Namibia Institute of Pathology was set the task of validating and implementing POCT and I am part of the team entrusted to execute these tasks”.
“In searching for a dedicated course to learn more about POCT, I came across the Graduate Certificate in Global Point-of-Care Testing offered by the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing in Australia.” “I was convinced that this course would assist with the Implementation of POC testing in Namibia”. Being a fully on-line course, Mr Chiwara has been able to study the Graduate Certificate while continuing to work full time in Namibia. Mr Chiwara has been impressed with the course stating, “I have found the content relevant and helpful here in the Namibian setting and context. Now that I have completed the Graduate Certificate in Global Point-ofCare Testing, I have the necessary skills to train other remote and rural health workers in the use of POCT to reliably and safely diagnose and manage the high disease burden prevalent in people in our country.” He also thanked Prof Mark Shephard and the other members of the teaching team for their excellent assistance throughout the course.
Douglas Chiwara at one of the HIV Counselling and Testing facilities in Windhoek Namibia
Readers wishing to learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Global Point-ofCare Testing and other topics offered by the International Centre for Point-ofCare Testing, such as the undergraduate topic in Point-of-Care Testing ([MDSC 3100] in the Bachelor of Medical Science and the Bachelor of Health Sciences), please email heather.halls@flinders.edu.au or visit www.flinders.edu.au/courses
Education in Focus is an initiative of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University Comments and suggestions for future articles are welcome Also available online: www.flinders.edu.au/health-sciences/current/publications.cfm Editorial Team: Ms Monika Vnuk, A/Prof Claire Drummond, Ms Kelly Meier, A/Prof Barbara Sanderson, Dr Wendy Abigail and Dr Yvonne Parry Contact: monika.vnuk@flinders.edu.au
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