to this crazy adventure we call MedSchool! These next five years will be full of ups and downs, from early morning crams to late night celebrations and everything in between. Our message for you is to embrace the ups and make the most of your time here in sunny Newcastle. Get to know your cohort, full of so many like minded, kind and interesting people. You’ll be stuck with them for at least the next five years, so learn to help and encourage each other along the way. Make time to enjoy all Newy and the surrounds have to offer. Take a day trip to Nelson Bay, get a group together for a wine tour in the Hunter Valley, or simply soak up the sun at one of the many beaches within a 15 minute drive. Most importantly look after yourself, it’s easy for study to get in the way. Take the time to do things you enjoy, read a good book (Principles of Anatomy and Physiology doesn’t count), head to the beach, exercise or just grab brunch with your new friends. It’s super helpful to find a good GP in Newcastle if your not from the area. If you’re ever struggling reach out to your friends, your tutors, year manager or the university counselling service. There are heaps of people ready to help if times are tough!! In the following pages you can find loads of info on the different medical societies, Newcastle and some of the events you can expect through the year. We hope you love your time in medicine at UoN as much as we do. Work hard, play harder and make sure to say hi if you see us around. All the best for your journey in Newcastle!!! <3 Adam & Tea
Welcome Freshers, and congratulations! After all the effort and stress of studying, sitting UMAT, going through the interview process, what a remarkable achievement it is to finally say you are a medical student. And at the University of Newcastle no less! I'm going to let you in on a little secret: you made a great choice. Newcastle will be your home for at least the next three years. And that may be a bit daunting for some of you. But what a place to spend those three years! Used to being frustrated back home by public transport that never runs on time? All good, we barely have any! Wary of being a teetotaller in a university environment? Bar on the Hill is neither on a hill nor a bar anymore! Worried about missing the vibrant nightlife of Sydney? Great news, the Argyle will have you stuck to the dancefloor (literally) all night! Love getting in touch with nature? The university is basically surrounded by nature. Just be sure to carry your mozzie repellent with you on campus at all times. (Gets handed a reminder that this is supposed to be uplifting) ...Did I mention Merewether Beach beat out Bondi for best beach in Australia? (reference: Newcastle Herald). Public transport might be minimal for you city-slickers, but the university to hospital route is solid, and if you value your morning sleep-ins you'll be looking at a 15min commute at the max. You'll never be short of great food options on Darby Street, and for those of you that are really fancy a Hunter Valley wine tour should definitely be on your list. That sound a bit too far to go for a drink? Bar on the Hill might have dried up but you can still quench your thirst at Godfrey Tanner Bar, named after the legendary professor who loved having a cheeky schooey with his students, or at one of the numerous craft beer joints in town. And if you're planning a big night out, Newcastle does have Uber now so more of your money can be spent on having a good time! But the best part about Newcastle? The people that will very quickly become your med family. The brothers and sisters of your cohort that you'll laugh, learn, and cry with. This a place where everyone works together to help each other in whatever way they can. As the immortal Dr Veysey put it, we're a herd of wildebeest here at Newcastle. UNMS has whipped up this short guide to help you hit the ground running when you get here. It includes a checklist of things to get done before you start, a map of campus, information about our affiliate organisations you can get involved with, and key dates to mark on your calendars, including O'Camp 2018. Keep an eye out for Introductus, our med student magazine, in your first couple of weeks which will contain more information about UNMS and the city of Newcastle. This is just the beginning for all of you. There is so much ahead to experience and I encourage all of you to immerse yourself in the med school experience as much as you can. My team and I are here to help you in whatever way we can, so feel free to contact any of us at any point. We're here to make sure you get the most out of being a medical student at the University of Newcastle.
Nobbys Beach The break wall walk is well worth the time, take in the view +/- sea spray and watch the coal ships come in to the harbour. Nobbys is a great spot if you’re learning to surf and there’s plenty of space for picnics by the beach.
Newcastle Beach & Baths Newcastle baths are great for those who are not as comfortable in the surf and Newcastle beach is often a little more sheltered on a windy day. The addition of some beachside cafes makes Newy beach the pick for a coffee and a read of your book (or PBL notes ) Bar Beach & Dixon Beach When the sun is shining and there’s no wind around not much else beats these beauties. Awesome spot for a skate by the beach (there’s even a skate bowl for those a little more adventurous). For the most insta worthy beach views in Newy head to the ANZAC Memorial Walk by Bar Beach where you can even spot some hang gliders on a windy day. Merewether Beach & Baths Probably Newcastles busiest stretch of beach, its the perfect spot for some brunch by the water followed by a dip. The baths here are great but google the cleaning schedule before you go to make sure they haven’t been emptied for a scrub.
The next five years are going to be exciting, overwhelming and completely different from anything you’ve ever experienced before. Medicine can be challenging, especially when you add in moving away from home and having to look after yourself, but the experience is absolutely worth it. We’ve put together some of our favourite tips to get through the first year of med school.
It can be hard leaving behind everyone you know and moving away. The best way to stave off homesickness is by making new friends! Get involved in everything you can. First Incision and OCamp are your first exposure to the rest of the cohort and it’s a great place to socialise and start to know who’s who. Be sure to get tickets, they always sell out! All UNMS events are really wonderful ways to meet new people in your cohort and from other cohorts too. And friends always make everything better. AMSA also holds amazing events to meet people from other universities and really expand your social circle.
Contrary to popular belief, medical students don’t run on coffee, energy drinks and the empty fumes of your energy tank. It’s important to get a decent amount of sleep each night and unwind before the end of the night. Avoid electronics at least 30 minutes before bed. Try reading a book or listening to music. Treat yo’self. And don’t forget to eat well too. It’s tempting to live off Uber Eats (yes that’s in Newcastle) and pasta, but don’t forget to eat your fruits and vegetables too. You’re going to be a doctor one day, so it’s probably a good idea to take your own advice.
Whether it be watercolour painting or hitting the gym, it’s so important to find something outside of medicine to make sure you’re still somewhat connected to the outside world. UNMS Sport is a great way to get involved with UNMS, meet new people and stay active. Talk about multitasking! Otherwise, find a friend and take up surfing, hit the gym together or find all the popular brunch spots around town. We’ll see you there!
Newcastle is a beautiful place to live (once you get past the swamp and the mosquitoes). Grab some friends and roadtrip it up to Port Stephens, or for somewhere a little closer to home, hit up the Bogey Hole or Bar Beach! If sand isn’t your thing, go hiking in Blackbutt. There are so many things to do around Newy that you won’t be able to find the time to do everything!
We’ve all been through what you’re going through right now. Older students are a fountain of knowledge and wisdom that they love sharing with everyone, so if you ever need some advice or support, we’re always willing to share. There are so many other people to talk to as well! Don’t hesitate to talk to your tutors, year managers, university services or the GP if you feel like you’re struggling. And don’t forget about your friends too. They love you, so they’ll love lending you an ear to hear you out. Good luck with everything and we’ll see you around! Love from your Community and Wellbeing friends,
A big hellooo to you beautiful first years. Are you passionate about advocacy? Keen to see what medical students struggle with? Love meeting people and would like to chance to learn (and rave) with them? Well I think AMSA is the association for you!
Well AMSA is the Australian Medical Student’s Association, which connects, informs and represents Australia’s 17,000 medical students from each of the 21 medical schools. Students gather from all over Australia to discuss ad debate policies and participate in national events
AMSA is renowned for it’s amazing national conferences, which flawlessly blend academics, socials, and leadership development. In July, we have the famed Convention in Perth, Convention has become the largest student run conference in the southern hemisphere. It is a week long event which consists of stunning educational talks, workshops and free food by day and a totally lit social by night aka the best 7 days of your life. Next in Melbourne, we have the Global Health Conference in August, which is a smaller scale event with a large focus on global health equity and innovation. The educational presentations are inspirational and tackle current issues we face, whilst the social nights are equally breathtaking.
AMSA is a strong voice advocating for Australian medical students, we meet regularly with politicians, universities and relevant medical and medicopolitical bodies, but also engage the public through the media. Our policies are developed by students and reviewed at ‘think tanks’ which happen at the university 3 times a year, and finally passed at our National Councils. As your AMSA representative, I am here to listen to any concerns you may have on medicine and represent your views at the council, so feel free to contact me!
- AMSA @ UNMS
If all this is for you, there are many ways you can get involved: - Firstly, join the AMSA@UNMS facebook page (to receive updates) - Go to a national AMSA event. You definitely won’t regret it! - Signing up to be an AMSA member at www.amsa.org.au - Signing up to donate blood and score points for UNMS at AMSA’s Vampire Cup - Voicing your opinion and attending out think tanks and completing our surveys There is so much going on this year for AMSA and me and Jr AMSA rep, Jo are so excited to represent you guys. If you have any questions at all, please email us at amsa@unms.org.au or jnramsa@unms.org.au Hope you guys have a fabulous 2018! xoxo, Jacqueline aka Jax (:
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is a scary, new concept. Well, not that new at the University of Newcastle, which helped pioneer the concept. First, we’ll start with the general structure of week in First Year (Y1) JMP PBL. You’ll get used to the acronyms, trust me. Your PBL group is indispensable. Generally consisting of seven to nine people, you’ll be spending approximately thirty-six tutorials with them. So, the most important thing is to respect the people around you and your tutor. Sometimes you’ll be right, sometimes you’ll be wrong – try to be as gracious as possible in any case. On a Monday, you have your PBL Open. During this Open, the tutor will explain to you how a patient has come into a healthcare service (usually a hospital or their GP) and what their symptoms are. The case for the week is the ‘Working Problem’ and the information given initially is called the ‘Trigger.’ Your job is to figure out what health issue has brought them in. you’re not expected to guess it first try. Your tutor will help you to hypothesise about what may be making them sick. You start out pretty general (e.g. ‘I dunno, maybe something’s up with their lungs?’) and narrowing it down to something more specific through discussing with your PBL group. The tutor may give hints, as well as test results and other information, to help you out. By the end of the Open you’ll have started to lock down a diagnosis. This is where the fun starts. You’ll be assigned a number of ‘Learning Targets’ to study at home for the next tutorial(s). Get them done as well as you can, but be aware of time constraints. On Wednesday is the PBL Middle. You discuss given activities with your group without your tutor being present. It’s a good mid-week study session, helping to hash out any early difficulties you might be having with the Working Problem. The PBL Close is on Friday. Your tutor will give you further information (like a definitive diagnosis) and expect you to discuss your Learning Targets. It’s usually in the form of a whole-group conversation which will cover basic sciences and how these processes turn into signs and symptoms. Whilst not as hard as it sounds, it’s really important to understand concepts properly through using resources like lectures and textbooks effectively. A wonderful strategy is to look at the lectures of the week ahead to get a general idea of what you’ll be learning about; preresearch never hurt anybody.
-
Food roster. This is where one person brings in food for the whole group; there will be a roster determining whose turn it is for the given tutorial. Assuming you had a nine-person group, you have to bring in food every ninth tutorial, but will be supplied food for the other eight by the other people. Remember to consider dietary requirements and allergies. Be respectful, be calm. PBL is a discussion where there’s no competition, no race – it’s just about helping each other learn. This is done best in an environment where people are friendly, or at least, not hostile. Your tutor is generally well-versed in Medicine/Science, but they don’t know everything. Even if they do, they mightn’t tell you. PBL is about discussion and working things out as a team, rather than the tutor lecturing you. If you can’t figure out something between yourselves, then you should ask the tutor.
Whilst the really smart guy in Year 2’s PBL notes may seem like godsend for pleasing your tutor, they’re not a godsend for your exam marks. If you want to look at another student’s notes, use them for consolidating yours when you’re near finishing. No, ‘near finishing’ isn’t writing “PBL Week 2”at the top of a Word Document and not doing anything else until 11pm Sunday. As discussed above, start PBL early. There’s nothing better than having a stress-free Thursday Night when you’ve finished PBL and watching all your friends freak out about having not finished theirs. Ask your tutor or your PBL group if you have any questions. Both are great resources. Get someone onto making a Facebook Chat or Page for your PBL Group – it’s a brilliant way to share resources and ask questions.
Hi we are Cat and Clauds, the UNMS Sports Conveners for 2018 and our role is to distract you from the oftenchallenging world of JMP by diving into sports! Both of us have played in every sport UNMS has to offer and can personally vouch for, (depending on your competitiveness), the stress relief it gives. It’s also a really great way to meet people across all of the year groups.
Whether you’re about to be called up onto the Olympic team or never walked onto a sporting field in your life, you have a spot on one of our teams. Each week UNMS has teams playing in Touch Football, Basketball and (two!) Mixed Netball competitions. These teams are entirely social and whilst we do have talented players and have won a few grand finals in the past, a large number of the players are new to the game and just keen to get a regular fix of exercise. The matches are played weekly at The Forum on campus and the times will vary from week to week, which your team captain will keep you up to date on! Check across the page for the various game times:
Med vs. Law Rugby In a longstanding tradition, every year Med and (some) Law students ignite the faculty rivalry by playing in the annual rugby match. This match is for all skill and year levels and is always good fun to watch. Whilst we may have lost last year, we are excited to prove to the assorted Law/Engineering/ Business team that we are deserving of the trophy. Interfaculty Sports Day Interfaculty Sports Day is a round robin sports day against Law, Pharmacy, BusCom, Physiotherapy in the sports Netball, Soccer and Touch. We currently have possession of the very broken cup (apparently celebratory drinks out of the trophy don’t go so well) and we are keen to slaughter all the faculties again this year. NSW MSC Sports Day Every year a different med school hosts the NSW MSC Sports Day, a roundrobin competition in a variety of sports to deem which med school is supreme. Last year, we sent a team of six med students to the gong and managed to snag the silver medal over med schools that had sent dozens of students. Keep an eye out for more info if you want to be part of our team for this year! Make sure to check out the UNMS Sports facebook group and if you have any questions feel free to slide into our dm’s. Even if you aren’t keen on playing sport, we’d love to see you cheering UNMS on from the sidelines.
- UNMS Sports
Firstly, when it comes to recommending additional resources to help you get through the year, it is hard to look past Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). These are weekly sessions where a PASS ‘Leader’ who is a more senior medical student facilitates an effective and fun (seriously) study session covering the topics of the previous week. It really helps you consolidate and clarify your understanding of the content while also helping you stay up to date each week.
Secondly, YouTube. There are loads of channels that have excellent content on many of the topics you will study in medicine. By far my favourite channel is Osmosis with their videos going through a good overview of all you need to know about a particular condition (symptoms, cause, management etc.). For anatomy and physiology at a basic level, Armando Hasudungan is great. For OSCEs, Geeky Medics will be your best friend and for histology check out shotgun histology. While I personally don’t have the patience to get through hour long videos, have a look at Dr. Najeeb if you want to be an ‘excellent’ doctor, not a ‘good’ one.
As medical students, you have the option of going into the Anatomy labs outside class time during the week (I think the times will be available on blackboard). Grab a friend and definitely try visit the labs at least once outside class to apply what you learn from textbooks to the actual body! Also check out the Anatomyzone website where they have a 3D model and Acland’s videos (available via library) to effectively learn anatomy. To quiz how much you actually know, check out Downstate’s ‘Human Anatomy quiz’ website.
To understand new physiological concepts in simple terms with great diagrams, Tortora or Martini are the textbooks to go for. These textbooks beautifully explain the normal physiological processes within the body and what might happen if these processes aren’t working properly (best textbook for 1st years). However, for those who want the extra fine details about physiological processes, Guyton is the textbook you are looking for. For anatomy, I would recommend Gray’s Anatomy Textbook (not the TV show) and Moore & Daley Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Although for full advantage, I would highly recommend going to Anatomy Labs and applying this knowledge!
When it comes to studying the pathophysiological mechanisms of disease processes (Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Morphology and Clinical Symptoms) Robbins Basic Pathology and Kumar & Clark’s Clinical Medicine are two textbooks I’ll recommend.
Finally, the godliest textbook of all, which will be necessary for your entire medical school life and further down into your medical career, is Talley and O’Connor’s Clinical Examination. This textbook basically has everything (literally) you will need to pass your OSCE’s.
The University of Newcastle Surgical Society, also known as UNSS and SurgSoc, is an organisation that endeavours to connect, inform and support our future surgeons and doctors. Our members span the 5 years of the JMP, bringing together a diverse range of perspectives and knowledge. UNSS boasts a well-rounded calendar of both academic and practical events to help expand students’ experience and supplement formal coursework, connecting students with professionals in the field.
Key dates of some of these exciting events, targeted towards pre-clinical years: Women in Surgery - 8th March Basic Skills 1 - 14th March Pathways to Surgery - 5th April Careers Night 1 - 16th May Year 1 Anatomy Review Night - 14th June (Anatomy nights are always incredibly popular before exams, with tutors coming in to help revise and answer any questions!) Basic Skills 2 - 8th August Membership to SurgSoc is only $10, and lasts for the duration of your medical degree. We’ll see you on Orientation Day - come and sign up at our table or contact us if you miss it!
- UoNSurgSoc
- DEA UoN
DEA UoN is a student society that is part of the national organisation Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), a network of medical professionals and students actively engaged and advocating for patient health and climate action. Climate change is recognised as the largest global health threat of our time, but on the flip side, presents the greatest opportunity for health innovation. We know climate change is a large, complex issue, but we also know that we are not helpless, so as a supportive network of professionals that targets specific issues related to health, DEA is very influential and can make (and has already made) progressive change. Our vision is to provide a platform for health students to raise awareness, be engaged, and act now within the wider community to prevent the worst health consequences of climate change; and to work towards a more sustainable campus and community for the benefit of public health.
We run skill workshops to learn practical skills to make actual tangible change; social activities; networking events; conduct primary research or ‘citizen science’; we liaise with politicians to influence their decision-making; and we lead campaigns on-campus. Important dates to look out for are our first social catch-up Tuesday 6th March; and the national DEA conference which is in Newcastle this year (!!) on 13-15th April 2018 – a weekend of inspiring (and renowned) speakers, hands-on workshops and social nights. To get involved, shoot us a message via the Code Green + DEA UoN page on Facebook or dea.uon@gmail.com and we will add you to our organising group! We always have open-door meetings so anyone is welcome to come along – Tuesdays 1-2pm in HA186, any changes will be public on our social media.
JMP Critical Care Society is a medical student society running events geared towards gaining experience and skills around Emergency Medicine, Trauma, Anaesthetics and retrieval medicine (So basically all the fun bits!).
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking in particular to bring base level exposure to key skills like suturing, intubation, cannulation and trauma management direct to students of all year-levels. This year we are also lining up some non-academic events that should get your heart racing like only Critsoc (or a trauma call) can.
Join our facebook page JMP Critical care Society, and keep an eye out for our critical care bear to tell you about all our events!
TALK TO US ABOUT
Hi all! I am currently a 5th year student away in Tamworth, missing all my food adventures in Newy. Here is a low-down of all my secret favourite places to eat, as per the last 4 years I spent eating/ researching/gaining weight just for this very articleâ&#x20AC;Ś
1. CORE ESPRESSO – Darby St Serves the best coconut chia pudding in Newcastle – hands down. Amazing coffee but slightly acidic on the spectrum, would recommend taking espresso with normal milk and not entertaining soy options. They cater for all dietary preferences – vegan, gluten free, quinoa inclined… It is the definition of a niche urban hipster café.
2. BLACK CIRCLE CAFÉ – Lambton If your friends want to drag you to the locale up the road, might I recommend this cheaper, better and less overstated alternative. Black Circle is a modest but perfect café for that breakfast you want to take yourself out on to read your Julian Barnes novel in peace. The coffee is just as spectacular as the food accompanying it, using imported coffee beans unique to their café in all of Newcastle. Not to mention, they feature a beautiful back wall covered with vinyl covers. What more can you ask for in a Saturday morning treat?
3. TALULAH – The Junction Situated in the heart of the junction, Talulah is always bustling with people from morning to night. Personally, having only tasted the breakfast and lunch menu, I can vouch for the consistently high quality coffee and ever changing seasonal menu that will enrapture your tastes. The décor and lay out of the place is also equally stunning and continues to operate as a bar late into the night.
1. CORNER LANE ESPRESSO – Lambton Corner Lane serves the one of the most delightful coffees in Newcastle. A favourite hotspot for consultants to buy take out coffee, it has been tasted and tested by your very peers at the hospital. It is only a small joint doing baked goods and cute coffee cups, closes at 3pm but is open for all you jetting to hospital at 6.30am.
2. PAPA’S BAGEL BAR – Hunter St Renowned for its freshly made bagels everyday but actually serves fantastic coffee. There is a great atmosphere and always a bustle of people filling the place to the brim. It is a must for an early breakfast or a weekend brunch.
3. THE LOCOMOTIVE – Mayfield/Hunter St It is a small hole in the wall coffee joint hidden in Mayfield’s bustling main road. Mainly serves coffee with a choice of limited baked goods and some simple toasties. However, take your coffee in whatever fashion you prefer – try normal espresso, v60 pour over, batch brew and cold drip.
1. SAIGON FEAST – Hunter St With the limited Asian cuisine around Newcastle, this is a trade secret of mine for the last few years. Saigon Feast delivers the best Vietnamese cuisine in Newcastle, namely number 26 on its menu – Combination Beef Pho. This is a musthave experience for only 15$ a bowl, you will be thoroughly impressed how far international cuisine has come in Newcastle.
2. ANTOJITOS – Newcastle West Antojitos is the best Mexican you will ever eat in NSW. They deliver the best food featuring fresh daily produce and home made taco shells, nachos and burrito wraps. The laid back and welcoming vibes of the restaurant is a tell-tale of how they began as a food truck, and have now moved from Carrington to Newcastle West to physically make a mark on the Newcastle food scene.
3. PARRY ST GARAGE – Parry St Cocktails after a packed week at hospital? Parry St Garage serves the most delightful cocktails, woodfire oven pizzas and pasta on the block. With a spacious venue and plenty of street side parking, it is perfect for everyone. Their seasonal menu continues to surprise me as they serve a new pappardelle everytime, however nothing can quite beat that Ragyu duck they served me one time..
“ These are some of my favourites over the years and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have. For my peace of mind, don’t go to three monkeys just for the over-hyped shakes. I challenge you all to try everything and come to love Newcastle as much as I have. “
BREAATHHE is the Rural Health Club (RHC) at UoN and part of the National Rural Health Student Network (NRHSN). We are multidisciplinary with students from every discipline in the Faculty of Health as members We have approximately 900 members across three UoN campuses We are like-minded people with a passion for Rural & Remote Health Provide the some of the cheapest First Aid Courses on campus – you need this for placement!! Help you find scholarships and make the most of your degree by going on rural placements – such as the John Flynn Placement Program Increase awareness of the disparities of health which exist between urban and rural Australians Provide opportunities to find out more about rural careers with our speakers nights and even engage with rural communities with our Rural High School Visits
Jump onto our website: https://www.nrhsn.org.au/breaathhe and click Join Now! Fill out the form and pay the $5 lifetime membership fee!
Look for BREAATHHE on Facebook Get in touch: uonruralhealth@gmail.com
First Aid Courses Close the Gap Day Rural Health Information Evening – including John Flynn Place Program information Rural High School Visits Clinical Skills Nights Rural Health Speakers Night
You might be a little nervous, confused, extremely homesick and even a scared right now after moving to a completely new country and starting this new adventure. You might even be questioning why you came here. But before you start doubting your decision, read this article and I can assure you that you will feel a lot better. Why you ask? Well, because there is a lot of support out there for Internationals and many great events coming up to lightened up your mood. Get keen for the first international event of the year, “The Welcome Dinner” which will be soon so keep an eye on the UNMS International Facebook page for any updates and join the page if you haven’t already. The dinner will be very chill and an amazing opportunity to meet up with other internationals from your year and other years. It will be a great bonding experience, trust me. Not only that, there will be many other little events such as picnics and beach trips throughout the year.
Lastly, I understand that PBLs and OSCEs can be very intimidating and difficult at the start but don’t you worry because there is a team to provide academic help for International Students. Dr Pavana Ballal and Michelle Foot provide academic support in taking patient history, physical examinations, OSCEs, help with written and oral communication skills and many more. If you would like to organise a session email them, your International year rep or me. I highly recommend you do it! If you are interested to represent year 1 please contact me. Our Current Subcommittee: Year 2: Denise Chia and V Ranjeeta Year 3: Alyssa Chong Year 4: Devin Deo Year 5: Goh Yao Kuan Our International family here at Newcastle is so happy to have you all. If you have any questions or concerns or if you just want to have a chat please don’t hesitate to email me or Facebook message me.
International officer
Of course you are! Hey there. We’re UNOGS - the University of Newcastle’s first society dedicated to Obstetrics and Gynaecology. We’re super passionate about women’s health and we’re here to make excellent doctors out of clever medical students. UNOGS is for everyone. Whether you’re a curious first year interested in Women’s Health, a struggling fourth year needing a leg up in WACH. or a 5th year looking for some career guidance - we’ve got you covered. This year is going to be our biggest yet. Events we’ve got lined up for you include: Basic Skills in Obstetrics and Gynaecology 23/05/2018 + 29/08/2018 Pathways to Obstetrics and Gynaecology 25/07/2018 Simulated Year 4 OSCE’s Dates to be confirmed and a few other cheeky additions we’re keeping up our sleeve. Okay. Enough small talk. You’re more than just another keen medical student, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to our society. To get onboard, meet us at one of our O-Week Stalls, or jump online at joinunogs.getqpay.com.au to become a member. Need to get in touch? No problemo. Just shoot us an email at unogsoc@gmail.com, or facebook message us on facebook by search- ing @UNOGsoc.
Do you have interests other than Medicine? Would you like some time out every now and then to do something other than study? Come join MedRevue! MedRevue is a unique opportunity to spread your creative wings. Every year close to 100 students are involved in creating a fully-fledged review-style musical themed around Medical School and Medicine in general. There are roles in acting, singing, dancing, comedy, set, costume, and prop design, lighting and sound production, administration, baking, runners, and pretty much anything you can imagine. Unlike most other societies, if you want to be involved, we’ll find a place for you! This year’s amazing production is being written and directed by two incredibly committed and passionate students: Alex Marzol of the BMed Teachout Year 2, and Daniel Urquhart of Year 3. We guarantee that this will be a production like no other! With over 20 years’ dramatic experience between us, and countless shows under our belts we hope to deliver a show of utmost quality. Our main goal, however, is to have a great time, and help everyone involved to make the most of this amazing experience! MedRevue has always been one of the most enjoyable things Med students can do, and provides the opportunity to work with upper and lower years in a way that is not provided anywhere else in the JMP. If all this hasn’t already convinced you to give it a go, MedRevue is also home to the most legendary after-parties to grace any extra-curricular activity out there. So what’re you waiting for? Strap on your dancing shoes, and join us today!
I’m Nada, a proud Wuddawurrung woman from the Ballarat region in Victoria, and the Indigenous Representative for Medsoc 2018. My role is to assist the medical society with incorporating Indigenous health events into their agenda, and to collaborate between the society and the Wollotuka institute. We often hear the term, ‘Closing the Gap’, but what does that actually mean? Closing the Gap refers to reducing the difference between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians statistics when it comes to education, employment and health. School attendance of Indigenous Australians is 10% lower than non-Indigenous Australians and decreases drastically with remoteness. Employment is affected by low levels of education, and results in a much lower employment rate of Indigenous people. The average lifespan of Indigenous people is 10 years lower than non-Indigenous people. What can we do about this? As future health professionals, we have an opportunity to play a role in Closing the Gap. We can offer our services in rural and remote communities and assist in managing chronic diseases, talk about suicide prevention, support an aging community and much more. Indigenous Australians are one of the oldest cultures in the world, and we need to help preserve and protect the people and the culture.
And now you’re probably thinking, ‘I haven’t even started first year of medicine’ or ‘I never want to go rural’. Well, here’s what you can do for now: • Go to events It’s hard walking from one end of campus to the other, but it’s worth it, I promise. You can make friends, make a study group, support is essential. • Actually listen to the speakers Free food?! Yes I understand, we’re all poor uni students, I understand the hunger. However, there are some pretty amazing and influential speakers that come to inspire and teach young, eager medical students. Listen to them, speak to them after if they have time. These people are potential mentors, you’ll need those if you want to go into a certain speciality. • Participate There’ll be opportunities to join groups, attend meeting, and have your say. Get involved and help out, join committees. Do it while you still have heaps of time in your first couple of years. • Think about the Gap We are so incredibly lucky to have the opportunities that we do, but there are still people in our country who are less fortunate. Talking about the problem, spreading awareness, involving yourself in opportunities to learn more, become passionate about a cause. Actually do the Indigenous learning targets and assignments. Isn’t this why the majority of people want to become Doctors? To help? We can start small, and we can start now. This year, there’ll be culture, interesting (+ influential) speakers, food, and opportunities for everyone to learn fun new skills. Get involved and get hyped. I’ll be around, so say hello or come have a yarn!
UNMS PRESENTS
"Damn, Lil Pump, yeah, you be flexin" – Lil Pump A train the size of Lil Pump's self-promoting abilities is coming to town. And that train isn't even really a train, it's just a really bad metaphor for the otherwise great things we have in store for you at O'Camp 2018. Not only is O'Camp a celebration of the years of hard work and perseverance you've put in to get into medicine, it’s also a great way to get to know your fellow Freshers. It's arguably the best weekend of your degree and sharing it with those in your cohort is definitely the way to go. At this stage though, it's natural to have many questions about everything, like 'What's the first year of med like?' (good) and 'are you guys even qualified to run an O’Camp?' (no), but hopefully this article will help clear up a few of your queries.
So what is O'Camp? O'Camp is an annual camp run early on in your first year of medical school, where everybody comes together and forges friendships that last the length of your degree, if not a lifetime. We've got big plans for the whole weekend. A lot of activities will be on offer and two amazing social nights are in the works. Now this might sound like a three-day bender and it might end up being like that for some of you, but if that's not your style, that's alright too – we'll have plenty of things planned for non-drinkers too. There'll be an academic component with activities run by the Surgical Society and Wake Up (the University's global health group), aimed at helping you acquire skills and knowledge that might be useful for the rest of your degree. But, on the other hand, if you're not feeling particularly studious that weekend, you can always see how many standards it takes you to really “get to know” all your new friends/acquaintances/lovers/family - just remember that medcest can really make that first pbl awkward.
Where is O'Camp? This year, we're trying something new. Our old, faithful location of Port Macquarie has been a good servant over the years but we thought it was time to move onto bigger and better things. That's why the 2018 edition of O'Camp will be held at Sundowner Tiona Tourist Park in Pacific Palms - right by the beach. Transport to and from the accommodation and for the social night(s) will be sorted for everyone, along with your linen and meals. If this isn't enough to entice you to come, we'll also throw in a limited edition Tshirt, which might come handy during the weekend but also throughout the year when you inevitably run out of clean clothes, whether that be due to a lack of time to do laundry from studying too much or being too lazy (probably the latter). What's your role in all of this? All you have to do is make sure you buy a ticket to this weekend experience. However, there'll be more first years than there are O'Camp spots and tickets always sell out pretty quickly so the best thing to do would be to get in quick and secure your spot. It's figuratively and literally a once-in-a-degree event and by far the easiest way to get to know your fellow freshers. More details will be released soon on the Facebook event as well as your year's JMP Facebook group. We'll be ramping up the O'Camp hype in the first week of uni too, with the camp scheduled to run from the 9th of March to the 11th. To summarise O'Camp is truly a special event and we'd love it if you decide to come and enjoy one of the best weekends of your life. You'll get to meet future friends, learn a bit about medicine in general and party for a good cause! If you've got any questions, comments or suggestions, feel free to email us at ocamp@unms.org.au or contact us privately (whether in person or messaging). We're happy to help and we look forward to meeting you all. Let the muzz begin! Your humble convenors, Bal Dhital, Darshan Sitharthan and Anes Karahasan
The annual Birthing Kit Night. Come to the John Hunter Hospital in March to help package and distribute birthing kits to vulnerable women around the world (such as to Uganda in previous years) to help enable a clean and safer birthing environment. Annual Red Party This is part of AMSA Global Health’s Red Party National Project. It is our premier social event which is a movement to raise awareness to the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. Talent Night Refugee Health Night Climate Change and Global Health Speaker’s Nights
Wake Up!” was an initiative started in 2005 by a team of medical students who were passionate about making more of a difference in the world. Since then, our driven member base has substantially expanded. However, “Wake Up!” still maintains the same goal. Our whole purpose is to help those around the world who truly need it, drive the importance of global health to our peers as well as make the year’s events engaging, interesting and fun! We want 2018 to be a year of change. A change for us, a change for our altruistic members and a change for those who are struggling to break out of their circumstances around the world. We hope you will take this opportunity to join us and help make a difference (and have a lot of fun while doing it)!
- Wake Up Global Health
â&#x20AC;˘$19 Jug and Curry at The Brewery Newcastle $10 Pizzas for members at the Burwood Inn $10 Pasta, $12 schnitzel at The Gates Hotel Adamstown ( MonThurs)
90c Dumplings at The Blind Monk 80c Chicken Wings at The Brewery Newcastle $2 Taco Night at the Crown & Anchor $10 Chicken Schnitzel and crispy chips at the Honeysuckle Hotel
$4 Schooners at The Junction Hotel $10 Fish and Chips at the Honeysuckle Hotel (From 6pm $10 burgers and $10 Jugs of Beer at The Sunnyside Tavern
$10 for three tacos and a drink At La Casita, Hamilton $15 or less lunches at Foghorn Brewhouse $15 Pizzas at The oriental Hotel
$10 Bucket of Hot Wings from 4 pm at the Family Hotel $12 lunches at Barcito $15 or less lunches at Foghorn Brewhouse $19.50 all you can eat Mussel pots at Merewether surfhouse
$9.90 Schnitzel and Chips $10 Dozen oysters at The Duke of Wellington
$3 Tacos at The Premier Hotel
$12 lunches at Barcito
$5 Burgers at The Exchange (with a drink purchase)
$14 All day Burgers at the Family Hotel
$5 Mexican meals and $4 margaritas at The Brewery $10 Steak with chips at Honeysuckle Hotel from 6pm $11.90 Schnitzels at the Mary Ellen Hotel
$15 or less lunches at Foghorn Brewhouse $15 Skewers from 4pm at the Squires Maiden
$12 lunches at Barcito $15 or less lunches at Foghorn Brewhouse $15 Lamb shanks with garlic bread at Soho on Darby
$5.50 Vietnamese Pork Rolls at Krust on Beaumont Street $20 Tradies Lunch 12-2pm at The Burwood $12 Schnitzel for Lunch Monday-Thursday and Thursday nights at the Clarendon $7 dumplings, $14 ramen and $4.50 Bal Buns at New Beijing $12.90 Laksa Bowl at Lee’s Kitchen in Westfield Kotara ½ price pizzas everyday from 3-5:30pm at Parry St Garage $10 Burgers for lunch and Dinner at Bistro Lowlands