UoW medical students – Welcome to the North Coast

In July 2020, a cohort of 19 University of Wollongong senior medical students relocated to the NSW North Coast, from Murwillumbah in the north-west to Kyogle, east to Ballina and south to Grafton, in order to complete their 12-month longitudinal integrated placement in general practice, hospital and community health settings. Whilst here these students will have clinical experiences in various disciplines, including surgery, medicine, general practice, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and emergency medicine. They will spend the next year living, working and learning alongside our local clinicians, as well as enjoying the beautiful country lifestyle in our region. UOW’s graduate medicine students are selected not only for their high academic achievements but for their personal qualities and experiences and proven commitment to rural and regional communities. During their orientation week, students attended a clinical skills workshop at the University Centre for Rural Health (UCRH) North Coast in Lismore, participating in skills stations such as intravenous cannulation, basic life support and suturing workshops. The students also attended an Aboriginal Health Day facilitated by Emma Walke, Academic Lead Aboriginal Health, and Susan ParkerPavlovic, Associate Lecturer Aboriginal Health from UCRH, with the presenters encouraging the students to reflect on their own attitudes and behaviours in understanding cultural differences, essential in order to provide the best possible care to patients. The University of Wollongong’s medical program was established with the primary aim of helping to address the critical shortage of medical practitioners outside major cities, and actively recruits students who have rural backgrounds. In addition to the students who have just commenced in the region, 10 final year students continue to train in the region as part of final year placements and a number are also working in Lismore Base Hospital or Tweed Hospital under the NSW Ministry of Health’s Assistant in Medicine program. These medical students are grateful to have the opportunity to learn and experience rural medicine in this region. One of the best ways to encourage young doctors to make career choices to work in rural communities after they graduate is to introduce them to life in a regional town while they are students.

Joanne Chad UOW Program Coordinator

19 UOW Medical Students from Murwillumbah, Kyogle, Ballina, Lismore, Grafton and Maclean

UOW medical student Jasmine Pickard and UCRH Educator Frances Barraclough