JCU DENTAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Brace Yourselves A guide to making the most of your Dentistry degree in Cairns
2019 EDITION
OUR PROUD SPONSORS
2019 COMMITTEE
"JCUDSA Inc. is a non-profit student run organisation that supports and represents the interests of JCU dentistry students. We strive to forge a student culture that is enriched by co-curricular as well as extra-curricular events and initiatives."
FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to JCU Dentistry and congratulations on getting an offer to study at this great facility! This is a very exciting time for you all and you have worked hard to get to this point. I am sure you all are excited to dive right into this course and experience the university life here at JCU. The first few months can be overwhelming and it might take a while to get used to. For most, it’s your first time at university and others it’s your first time away from home. This booklet is designed to help break the ice for those new to Cairns and Australia. It is a guide to help you learn about the essentials of Cairns and your new University life - the location of shopping centres, activities to do in your precious time off, as well as the many attractions that are best suited to the student budget. As dentistry students, we use many parts of the Cairns campus to attend lectures, practicals and tutorials. As such, we have included a copy of the campus map to help you navigate your way around. If you need any more information, remember you can always ask your mentor (assigned to you on the first day of O-week), your home group coordinators (who you’ll meet in the first week of uni), your first year experience coordinator as well as the dentistry administration team. Keep in touch and remember that they are there to provide you with assistance, moral and social support in times of need. Congratulations again and brace yourself for the fun filled years ahead! All the best for your 2019, Laura Purcell, Year 4. JCUDSA Inc, Publications and Media Officer.
FROM THE PRESIDENT Congratulations on making it into JCU Dentistry! Before you head off to knuckle-down and study hard, it’s important to establish and maintain a healthy work-life balance. That’s where we, the JCU Dental Student Association (JCUDSA), come into the picture. Since 2009, our student-led organisation has aimed to develop a strong sense of culture within the dentistry community by enriching the student experience. We work hard to deliver a long list of sought-after, unmissable activities for our members so you’re in for a treat! There are social and sports events to enjoy, community and charity initiatives to join, an opportunity to party-hard during our much-anticipated annual Dental Ball and much more. We also focus on the academic side of dentistry and provide support through class representatives, guest lecturers and opportunities to connect with industry professionals. Importantly, we recommend that you sign up for a JCUDSA Gold membership to take advantage of discounts on exclusive events and merchandise – we’re the cheapest dental student association to join and it’s worth it! We are also on the lookout for enthusiastic people to join our team so keep an eye out for opportunities to come if you would like to get involved! Finally, we hope this booklet will help you to kick-start your journey and enjoy the next few years at JCU. We’re all so excited to welcome you to our family, so don’t be shy and come join us at the dentistry o’week festivities!
Michael Tien, Year 4. JCUDSA Inc. President
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO
LIFE IN THE TROPICS Whether you're travelling from interstate or internationally, you will know you have reached tropical Cairns as soon as you step off the plane! The humid weather here is characteristic of Far North Queensland - however, you will have plenty of opportunity to cool down at the Esplanade Lagoon or by the beach at Palm Cove. It is without a doubt that your time here will be filled with new experiences and friends along the way! From beautiful beaches and delicious restaurants, this region is famous for its rainforests, waterfalls, islands as well as the Greater Barrier Reef. This booklet will provide you with tellall information important to know about Cairns, what to look forward to in 2019 and a survival guide for your orientation here at James Cook University!
Photo by John Xiong (Year 4)
AROUND CAMPUS Photo by John Xiong (Year 4)
As the Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Cairns is young, our facilities are modern and state-of-the-art. The Dentistry Building will be one of the places you will spend most of your time during your degree for sim clinic, prosthodontic lab, anatomy practicals, homegroup meetings and study sessions. Right next door is our very own 'JCU Dental Clinic' where our student dentists see patients. Our campus also features an impressive three-story library, several 24hr computer labs, a cafe and licensed bar, a sporting oval and a basketball court. Whether you are feeling homesick or stressed from the dentistry workload, you can always depend on JCU services for student support. Academic advice can be given through the Student Mentor Program and Learning Advisors in the library. Moreover, onsite professionally trained psychologists are available for drop-in sessions daily.
There are also many student socieities and clubs to join, from our very own JCU Dental Student Association (JCUDSA) to the Rural Health in the Northern Outback (RHINO). For the fitness fanatics, there is a gym on campus and membership can be purchased at the JCU Student Association (JCUSA) office. We've also got sporting teams, Zumba and Pilates sessions (visit the JCU website to learn more).
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
Cairns Student Lodge (CSL) Unlike any other University accommodation, CSL has a strong sense of belonging and, best of all, meals and utilities are completely catered for. It is also perfectly positioned for a quick walk to JCU and right across the road from the Campus Shopping Village which has all your essentials: Spar Grocery Store, Amcal Pharmacy, Max Fitness Gym, Smart Clinics Doctors, KFC, Dominoes, Splash's Fish and Chips and more! Additionally, the Lodge Event Hub organises trips, events and career and life skills workshops too. To ensure all students feel safe and secure, there is a friendly and dedicated team of Residential Leaders (RL)! This team comprises mainly of 3rd and 4th year dental students, who can help you feel more at home and provide pastoral care. Overall, the lodge is a brilliant place to spend your time and meet new people, whilst here at JCU.
John Grey Hall of Residence John Grey Hall is located on campus at JCU Cairns, making living here a stone's throw to class. Recently opened, the seven-storey octagonal building offers a courtyard featuring shared BBQ facilities and is the perfect place to relax and hang out with friends. The facility is fully managed by an Onsite Manager and administrative support team, with Residential Assistants providing pastoral care to students.
SMITHFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE
Located approximately 2km from JCU campus, the Smithfield Shopping Centre is just a short ride away for all your food, clothing and lifestyle needs. Here you can find major supermarkets such as Woolworths, Coles and Kmart as well as all major banks, pharmacies, a post office and Five Star Fitness gym. There is also an Event Cinemas and if you show your JCU student ID card on Mondays you can snag yourself a nice discount on movie tickets! Recently, the shopping complex underwent major renovations and this brought with it the arrival of many new restaurants and dining options including Burger Urge, Sushi Train, Burrito Bar, Lone Star Steakhouse, Poke Bowl, Subway, Boost Juice and Pho Pho Vietnamese Street Food.
OPENING HOURS Mon: 9am-5:30pm Tues: 9am-5:30pm Wed: 9am-5:30pm Thurs: 9am-8pm Fri: 9am-5:30pm Sat: 9am-4pm Sun: 10:30am-4pm
MEDICAL CENTRES Whether you become ill and need some health advice or you need to complete your preplacement immunisations and documentation, it is good to know that there are several local medical centres that can help you out.
Smithfield Central Doctors (Bulk-billed practice)
Located across the highway from Smithfield Shopping Centre and next to Mcdonalds, Hungry Jacks and Red Rooster. 7-11 Mt Millman Drive, Smithfield. QLD. 4878
Trinity GPs, Smithfield Village (Bulk-billed practice)
Located at Smithfield Village, a short car drive from JCU. Shop 12c and, Shop 12b/64 Smithfield Village Dr, Smithfield QLD 4878
Smartclinics, Campus Shopping Village (Gap payment):
Located at the Campus Village Shopping Centre, across the road from Cairns Student Lodge. 1-3 Faculty Close, Smithfield, QLD 4878
NIGHTLIFE IN CAIRNS Sometimes the dentistry workload can feel overwhelming, and so it is important to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Cairns makes this easy for us as the nightlife is quite dynamic, so it is not uncommon to find your fellow peers having a well-deserved study break at one of the city's many sought-after bars and clubs.
Salt house: Salt House is unlike anything you’ve seen before, relax on daybeds in the tropical outdoors, surrounded by flowing ponds and fire features. Be amazed by beautiful views of the water and city lights. There are two bars, live music on weekends, a restaurant and heaps of space to dance, or just relax and catch up with friends and a cocktail. Pier Bar: In an enviable location by the water, the Pier Bar is a great spot to catch up with friends. With an extensive wine & beer list and a cocktail menu featuring delicious in-house creations as well as the classics. There is also a great food menu with classic wood fired pizzas, burgers, fish n chips, steaks, seafood, pasta, the list goes on‌. Gilligans/The Attic: Well known by the locals as 'Gillies', this attraction is a backpacker's paradise. You can find an eclectic mix of people who come together to party in the biggest night club in Carins! It is open every night of the week and contains both inside and outside catered areas. Woolshed: The Woolshed is the only place where you can let your hair down and dance on the tables seven nights a week. There is a different theme each evening including Tropical Tuesday, a Ladies Night on Thursdays, and Bikini Sunday.
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CAIRNS ESPLANADE
Located just 20 minutes driving distance from the JCU campus, the Esplanade is one of Cairns' best known landmarks. As a hub for local and international visitors, it's the perfect place to go if you're looking for a beautiful view, an early morning jog or a nice dinner along the water. Here you will also find the Cairns Esplanade Swimming Lagoon, which is a perfect place to spend time soaking up the sun whilst enjoying a dip in the water and viewing the beautiful Trinity Inlet and mountains that line the horizon. Additionally, many restaurants and coffee shops are only a small walk away and there are communal BBQ areas surrounding park grounds under the luscious, leafy trees. Similarly, there are many forms of exercise equipment dotted throughout the parks and esplanade boardwalk. If you venture out for a short, relaxing stroll north along the beachfront boardwalk you will find yourself passing by Muddy's playground, a highly populated skate park and a beach volleyball court.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS Kuranda Skyrail Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a Cairns attraction with a Terminal in Kuranda and is accessible from Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands. Stretching 7.5km through the tropical rainforests of North Queensland, Skyrail provides a unique opportunity, and a world first, to see and experience ancient tropical rainforest in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Crystal Cascades Crystal Cascades is one of the secrets of Tropical North Queensland. Only a short drive from JCU, it has a secluded freshwater swimming hole hidden in a tropical rainforest and a series of small waterfalls that flow into large pools. Park facilities include electric BBQs, picnic tables and a toilet block. Green Island and Fitzroy Island These two islands, are amongst the most popular attractions in Cairns, providing you with a taste of the Great Barrier Reef. Green Island has many activities and amenities available, as well as places to eat. Fitzroy Island has a resort, a turtle rehabilitation centre, and walks around the island to secluded beaches and magnificent lookouts. Enjoy snorkelling and other aquatic activities at both islands!
Rusty's Markets Rusty’s Market has rightful place as the unofficial cultural heart of Cairns— trucks laden with quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers arrive in convoy. Bins of produce are quickly unloaded, trucks move off to be replaced by others, and the procession continues well into the day. Stallholders soon follow, with trolley and forklift, to collect their designated product. The organised mayhem continues every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Night Markets Come and visit the World Famous Cairns Night Markets & Food Court, there is something for everyone. Licensed restaurants and an array of souvenir and crafty gifts shops. There is even a good choice of Chinese massages operating from 12 noon every day. Open every day of the year from 5pm in the Night Markets or 10am in the Food Court till late. Port Douglas Port Douglas, only a short (and scenic!) drive north of Cairns has a vibrant atmosphere that must be experienced from the beautiful Four Mile Beach and 5 star resorts, to Macrossan Street which is a hive of activity due to its proximity to popular accommodation providers, clothing and souvenir boutiques stocking everything from flip flops to bathers, cafes and restaurants and shopping centres so you can pick up the necessities.
SHOPPING AND LIFESTYLE DFO: The Cairns DFO offers many stores, including Ralph Lauren, Oroton, Converse, TK Maxx, Cotton On, a post office, pharmacy, newsagent, Coles and a busy food court. This is an ideal one stop shop for dresses, suits and shoes for the Annual Dentistry Ball. Cnr Mulgrave Rd/Lyons St, Cairns, 4878. 9am-5pm daily. More info: www.dfocairns.com.au Cairns Central: This shopping centre is the biggest that Cairns has to offer, comprising over 180 stores, including Myer, Target, Kmart Coles, Priceline, JB-HiFi, Event Cinemas and more. Additionally, it has free parking for the first 3 hours at its undercover, multileveled carpark. 1-21 McLeod st, Cains, QLD 4870. More info: www.cairnscentral.com.au .
TRANSPORT METHODS Walking If you live at either the Beaches Luxury Apartments, the Cairns Student Lodge or John Grey Hall of Residency, walking is more than a viable option to JCU (might just be a little rough on those humid, summer days!). The Beaches Luxury Apartments is about a 5-7 minute walk from campus, whilst Cairns Student Lodge is about 10 minutes walking distance. Keep in mind we are in the tropics, so you will have to bare the humidity and the unpredictability of pouring rain! Make sure to have an umbrella on you at all times, especially during the wet season. Bus (public transit) Sunbus offers various buses with routes leaving from the northern beaches, Cairns Central shops, and Cairns City to name a few. Hot tip - present your student ID card at the time of ticket purchasing (visit the Student Information Centre in A1 to give your updated concession sticker to put on your ID card). Popular buses: 110 (Cairns Central Shops (Southbound) / Palm Cove (Northbound). This bus can collect you from the JCU bus stop and can take you to Smithfield Shopping centre, Cairns City and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. If you take this bus Northbound you can head to the glorious Clifton Beach and Palm Cove. 111 (Cairns Central Shops (Southbound) / Kewarra Beach (Northbound). Southbound from JCU bus stop, this bus will take you to the same destinations as 110. Northbound this bus will take you past the McGregor Road stop next to Cairns Student Lodge/Campus Shopping Village and onwards to Trinity Beach and Kewarra Beach.
Driving Whilst purchasing a car is not entirely necessary in Cairns, it does make life a bit easier, as many places in Cairns such as supermarkets, fitness classes, shopping centres, restaurants and beaches are not within walking distance. Alternatively public transportation, taking a taxi or ordering an Uber (more friendly on the bank account than taxi!) are also reasonable options.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2019?
This year JCUDSA has exciting events planned, promising something for everyone - we hope to see you enjoying the 2019 events and making the most of your time here at JCU! You can look forward to: Icebreaker at Cairns Student Lodge Party Bus Trivia Nights Annual Dental Ball Lunch & Learn activities Loupes evenings Clinical Skills Nights Relay for Life Australia's Biggest Morning Tea Cairns Clinical Cocktail Party Halloween Party Interyear Sports Carnival R U OK? Day Volunteer and Study Abroad Fair Dental Health Week TOMS MedxDent Mixer MIPS Cup: Medicine Vs. Dentistry Clinical Tradeshow
O'WEEK CHECKLIST Student ID Card. Go to the Student Enquiry Centre to get your student ID card. Used for access into the dentistry building after hours and your homeroom, the 24 hour computer labs, getting books from the library, photo identification for examinations, student discounts, public transport etc. Pre-placement Documentation. Complete your pre-placement documentation and be sure to check your JCU email for instructions on how to go about doing this. You will also need to complete CPR and First Aid training – more information can be found on your Facebook group class! Connect your device. Connect your laptop/tablet/phone to the university wireless network (Eduroam). The staff at the Library Info desk (ground floor) will be happy to help if you are having difficulties. JCU Email. Check your JCU email daily for important notifications from lecturers, university staff and students. LearnJCU. Use LearnJCU to gather lecture slides, notes and readings uploaded by your lecturers. Read through the Subject Outline for each subject, this will give you information regarding lecture topics, attendance requirements, assessment details and important dates. Textbooks. Check your recommended textbook list online and purchase what you need from the JCU Co-op Bookshop or ask JCU Dentistry on facebook for second hand textbooks. Also check online for cheaper deals (http://www.bookdepository.com/) or look for an e-book copy online or from your upper year classmates. Attire. Ensure you have a pair of closed-in shoes for all practical sessions. Homegroup. Get to know your homegroup leaders, as they are your first point of contact. For concerns in regards to academics or other issues, contact the first year coordinator. You will also have an Academic Represenative in your year who has a responsibility to contact a staff member when there is group concern. If in doubt of who to contact in a particular circumstance, ask your mentor or homegroup leaders for more information. Student Feedback. This is highly encouraged at JCU Dentistry. At the end of exams, it is recommended that you fill in Student Feedback forms on Subjects to help future improvements to be made.