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Why come to OCamp? If the word ‘initiation’ inspires thoughts of lame trust-building activities, boring group circles of “Hi my name is Joe and I like peanuts”, or fearfully health-hazardous concoctions for consumption resembling something from Sydney’s notorious St John’s College… then think again! As you read this, your 2013 O’Camp Convenors – Jazmin Daniells and Emma Curé – are putting the finishing touches on what is set to be nothing short of an incredible weekend. Like tribal warriors, we’ll unleash your inner survival instincts – Let the initiation begin. Each year, O’Camp gives first year students the skills they need to traverse the B.Med jungle ahead of them, with: • A practical academic program, with course-specific tips for survival • UON vs. UNE sporting & challenge activities, to build a little comradery and friendly rivalry • An introduction to the JMP student interest groups, so you can get involved with whatever tickles your fancy – global health, leadership, rural health, surgery, etc. • A fun, relaxed social program, where you can connect with your new colleagues, and mingle with the mentors (and try and keep up with those goodlooking second years as they tear it up on the dance floor!) Whether you’re entering med straight from high school, from another career path, or from a few years of other tertiary study – O’Camp is a chance to be connected, informed, and inspired, to make the most of your next 5 years! Your 2013 O’Camp Convenors, Jaz and Emma
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The Academic Programme The academic programme involves multiple small group sessions with team mentors. These mentors are experienced JMP students who have shown exemplary leadership, and the ability to balance the rigors of studying medicine with work and play. Mentors are there to be poked and prodded by your every question or concern! They’ve undergone mentor training so that they can best help you with organisational skills, assessment advice, extra-curricular academic opportunities, and share other coursespecific suggestions. The UNE and UON student interest groups will showcase their work to you, and how you can get involved. On the O’Camp Challenge Day, you will interactively explore the roles of these groups, and their future implications in your career. Logical reasoning, team work, creativity and inquisitiveness will be required to tackle scenarios based on themes such as: • Leadership and advocacy • Disaster relief • Current global health concerns • Refugee & Indigenous Health • Emergency Medicine & Surgery • Resourcefulness and Rural medicine By spending time with our eclectic selection of JMP student mentors, we hope that you’ll find ones whose passions and aspirations resonate closely with yours!
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The Sports + Activities Programme Alex Tridgell and Ned McNamee - who are these handsomely athletic gentlemen, you ask? They’re your 2013 Newcastle Medical Society Sports Convenors, and they’re organising an O’Camp sports program set to put even the fittest young whipper-snappers into tachycardia!* While the JMP endorses inter-univeristy bonding and teamwork, all friendliness is put aside for the duel of all duels – the inaugural UON versus UNE Sporting Challenge. YOU decide which cohort of first years will dominate the O’Camp sporting arena in 2013! But fear not, athletically-challenged individuals! It’s not all just testosterone-fuelled games. We’ll also have an excellent array of relaxed beach sports, so you can soak up the gorgeous view and frolic in the sand. *That’s medical mumbo jumbo for a quickened heart rate.
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The Social Programme “One of the things I love most about the JMP is the close friendship that spans between year groups. Even as newly inducted first years, we very quickly found ourselves with friends from every year of the degree!” (Emma Curé). Despite the demands of studying medicine, medical students form a tight-knit community with a busy social calendar. Following ‘First Incision’, O’Camp kick starts the 2013 social calendar for UNMS and UNEMSA. While we don’t want to spoil all of the surprises we have in store, you can expect sumo wrestling suits, trivia with a twist, a debating series (where hilarity trumps factuality!), ‘The Amazing Race’, and an evening bar venue by the water. Think O’Camp is just for high school leavers? WRONG! You may be surprised to know that in 2012, a major chunk of JMP first years had either taken a gap year, studied all or part of another degree, spent time in the workforce, started a family... the demographics are more varied that you’d think! Under 18, or don’t drink alcohol? Do not fret about being thrown into a dark room and being forced to watch endless G-rated movies until turning in for an early night’s sleep! We’ve put together a busy social schedule so that there’s something for you to do all whole weekend. The emphasis of the weekend is not about getting wildly drunk or causing a ruckus - it’s about hanging out with and getting to know your awesome new colleagues!
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We do not provide alcohol to students at O’Camp. If you’re drinking, it’s your choice - UNMS and UNEMSA encourages that you do so responsibly.
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Where is OCamp? O’Camp is held at the Sundowner Breakwall Holiday Park in Port Macquarie. On the afternoon of Friday March 15th, once classes for the day are done, buses will leave both UNE and UON to embark on the 3-hour drive to the quaint coastal tourist town of Port Macquarie - located south-east of Armidale, and north of Newcastle. It may be called O “camp”, but you won’t be roughing it in a flimsy tent! You’ll stay in cabins of 3-5 first year students from both UNE and UON. Everyone gets their own bed, and there are both unisex* and mixed cabin arrangements. The Holiday Park is a short stroll from local shops, bars and restaurants, and is ideally located adjacent to the pristine sands of Town Beach. For more information about the venue, check out their website: http://breakwall.sundownerholidays.com/ *We can guarantee you a unisex cabin if you so wish for any reason.
When is OCamp? Buses will depart for Port Macquarie from Newcastle/ Armidale on Friday, March 15th 2013 and will return to Newcastle/ Armidale on Sunday, March 17th 2013.
Got any other questions about OCamp? Still not convinced it’ll be one of the best weekends of your life? For more information, contact Emma and Jaz at ocamp@unms.org.au
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About UNMS
About UNEMSA
The University of Newcastle Medical Society (UNMS) is the peak representative organisation for medical students at the university of Newcastle. The Society (affectionately known as ‘medsoc’ on campus) represents over 650 medical students. Since starting in 1978 the UNMS has grown and matured into a multi-faceted organisation that organises a broad range of services for its members, including: representation, academic events, charity initiatives, welfare support, social events and sporting events.
The University of New England Medical Students Association (UNEMSA) is a non-profit organisation that exists to serve the growing population of medical students enrolled at the University of New England as part of the Joint Medical Program.
With events held almost every week of semester the UNMS helps to ensure students have ample opportunity to achieve an optimal work/life balance. The strong relationship held with the School of Medicine and Public Health and the Joint Medical Program helps to ensure students are able to provide direct feedback regarding the medical program if and when any issues arise.
We are a student-run organisation independent of the University and Faculty; with a student elected executive committee overseeing the management of the organisation. This is coupled with the support of UNEMSA’s members.
More info at: www.unms.org.au
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The organisation underwent primitive stages of development in 2008 and was finally established in 2009, a year after the birth of the Joint Medical Program and the UNE medical faculty as whole.
More info at: www.unemsa.org Booklet production by: Content - Emma Curé [ocamp@unms.org.au] Design - Ming Yong [publications@unms.org.au] Photo Credits: Ty Drake All photos were taken at O’Camp 2012
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