The Going Rural Health Newsletter | |
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Welcome to Going Rural Health News! Going Rural Health News is the publication of new and relevant information about all things related to rural clinical placements, education and rural health, from the Going Rural Health team. Team members are located in Ballarat, Shepparton and Wangaratta.
Again, it has been an extremely busy time for the Going Rural Health team. A number of Service Learning placements are underway, new placements have been developed, and staff are supporting students in a number of ways: social events, supervision, mentoring, financial support, accommodation support, education and cultural training (including our first virtual cultural training workshops).
Plus, along with Deakin, LaTrobe and Monash Rural Health we ran a very successful Regional/Rural Placement information webinar (see the newsletter for more details).
The weather has definitely turned to give us at least a hint of winter (or more than that if you are living in Ballarat like our Ballarat team). Keep healthy, and stay warm!
The Going Rural Health team |
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Going Rural Health student support
Regional/Rural Placement Webinar 2021
Going Rural Health Rural Pharmacy Support
NEW Going Rural Health Mentoring Program
The Going Rural Health Blog
Going Rural Health Education & University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health Webinars
External education & Resources
Going Rural Health and University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) Research
Going Rural Health Website |
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Going Rural Health Student Support | |
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Going Rural Health supports students to complete rural clinical placements. Support includes financial assistance, subsidised accommodation in selected areas, education, mentoring support, student activities, & cultural training. For financial assistance, eligible students may only receive EITHER subsidised accommodation at University of Melbourne owned housing (where available, subject to availability) OR a financial payment for their placement (not both). Financial payment is calculated per day of attendance at placement.
Federation University students will no longer apply for their financial assistance from Going Rural Health via the Federation University Scholarships office, but via the Going Rural Health website.
More information on the Going Rural Health Student Support Scheme, including how to apply, eligibility criteria and the full details of 2021 changes, is available HERE.
As always, we are trying to ensure that students get the best placement experience possible. Please help us to do this by directing students to complete our Student Placement Survey. It is a short online survey that should only take students 10-15 minutes to complete.
Looking after yourself while on a rural placement is more important than ever. See this Going Rural Health blog post for more information about what is available for students: Looking After Yourself on a Rural Placement. The post includes useful links, including to Going Rural Health's own online Resilience, Wellbeing and Self-Care education package. |
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Regional/Rural Placement Webinar 2021 | |
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The University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health (Going Rural Health), together with Monash Rural Health, LaTrobe Rural Health School and Deakin Rural Health, hosted a joint 'Regional/Rural Placement Support' Webinar for students undertaking placements in regional and rural Victoria on Tuesday 27th of April.
Over 300 participants registered for this free event, which included a panel of students and new graduates who had completed rural placements, some of whom are now working in locations outside metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong (regional or rural).
Students were provided with information about the benefits, differences and unique experiences provided on these placements, where to go for support and information, as well as why health professionals are needed in these regions.
The webinar was a huge success, and a recording of the webinar will soon be provided to registrants. It will also be available on our website HERE.
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Going Rural Health Rural Pharmacy Support | |
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Pharmacy Student Support
Please see the flyer below for Going Rural Health support provided to pharmacy students completing rural placements. |
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NEW Going Rural Health Mentorship Program - ELEN | |
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The Going Rural Health Emerging Leaders Engagement Network (ELEN), is an exciting, new, & interdisciplinary career-development mentorship program, aimed at linking new graduate, early career, and intern rural health clinicians, with experienced and accomplished professionals working in country Victoria.
ELEN is currently actively recruiting for mentors and mentees to be involved in the program!
If you are a novice rural health practitioner interested in gaining insight into how to build your career in rural health, or ELEN’s next superstar mentor, then you are encouraged to register by emailing a short expression of interest detailing who you are, your professional background, and motivation to be a part of the program to: mitchell.dunn@unimelb.edu.au
For further information please see the attached documents below, or contact the program coordinator, Mitchell Dunn, on the email above.
ELEN Mentee Flyer
ELEN Mentor Flyer
ELEN EOI Form |
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The Going Rural Health Blog | |
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Did you know that Going Rural Health has a blog? The blog contains posts on relevant rural, rural health, student placement, and education topics. There are also posts about self-care, particularly relevant for students on rural placement, and while there are social isolation restrictions in place. Authors are Going Rural Health health professional staff, with the occasional guest blogger.
Our most recent blog posts can be accessed below. New blog posts are posted on our Facebook page and tweeted on Twitter. |
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Rural Social Work Placements |
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A Rural Social Work Field Education Placement - A peek behind the scenes |
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Why Live Rurally? |
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The advantages of living and working rurally. |
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Looking After Yourself on Rural Placements |
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Health professionals as a group don't look after themselves very well. Students studying to be health professionals are also under a lot of pressure, and doing a placement in a… |
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Swan Song |
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Farewell from Cathy O'Brien |
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Going Rural Health Education | |
Online Going Rural Health Education
With the current caution preventing face to face education occurring, Going Rural Health have continued to provide education to staff and students via online education packages. See our online education page HERE for details. |
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Virtual Education - May/June 2021
STUDENT WORKSHOPS
Receiving Feedback
- Thursday 20th May
- Thursday 27th May
- Wednesday 16th June
Self-Care for Students
- Thursday 6th May
- Thursday 3rd June
- Thursday 17th June
All above sessions will be conducted 10.00am-1.00pm via zoom.
Critical Thinking & Clinical Reasoning
- Monday 24th May 1400-1530 via zoom
- Monday 21st June 1400-1530 via zoom
Cultural Competency in Aboriginal Health Training - Mooroopna
- Friday 18th June 0930-1530 (face to face, Shepparton region)
To register for any of these STUDENT workshops, visit the booking system HERE.
STAFF WORKSHOPS
Introduction to Supervision Workshop
Resilience & Self-Care Workshop
All above sessions will be conducted 10.00am-1.00pm via zoom.
Advanced Clinical Supervision Course
Course will be run in two parts:
- 3rd of May 10am-1pm via zoom
- 11th of May 10am-1pm via zoom
See flyer below for more details.
To register for any of the paid workshops above for STAFF, visit the Eventbrite booking system HERE.
Mentoring Community of Practice Workshop
These are run 2.30-3.30pm via zoom.
NIGEL Series 4 (New graduate education): Reablement For The Person Living With Dementia
- Tuesday 11th May 2pm, via zoom
To register for these free STAFF workshops, visit the booking system HERE.
Please contact the education team via the Going Rural Health email address: going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au for details of all education running in the virtual space, if any issues with bookings, or to book a virtual session from the education list at Education topics. |
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New Interdisciplinary Graduate Education & Learning (NiGEL) Series
NOTE: NEW BOOKING LINK https://rb.gy/hvkjez
Going Rural Health have introduced a new FREE education series for graduates and early career health professionals in 2021 (see flyer below). This series will support new graduates and early career professionals develop their transferable skills and non-discipline-specific knowledge in health care. Sessions will be held monthly via Zoom.
For a printable PDF copy of the flyer below, click HERE.
Registration for sessions essential. Bookings are via the link above (also on the flyer). Zoom connection details will be emailed to participants prior to the session. For more information contact:
Mitch Dunn mitchell.dunn@unimelb.edu.au or
Trish Thorpe trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au |
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6th Annual Ngar-wu Wanyarra Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Conference |
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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
The University of Melbourne, Department of Rural Health are pleased to advise that abstract submissions for our 6th Annual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Conference are now open that address our conference theme ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing’.
If you are interested in presenting, and want to submit an abstract, please complete your registration at the link HERE.
The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Conference is an opportunity for sharing information and connecting people that are committed to reforming the practice and research of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health, and celebrates Aboriginal knowledge systems and strength-based approaches to improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal communities.
When: Wednesday 13th October 2021, 9.30am
Where: Virtual
Keynote Speaker: Stan Grant |
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Free Public Lecture
The University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health in partnership with the Rotary Club of Ballarat South invites you to a Public Webinar provided by Professor Kim Mulholland.
Kim Mulholland is an Australian paediatrician, trained at Melbourne University and the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.
Professor Mulholland will share his knowledge on COVID-19 vaccines in Australia and the world. There will be the opportunity for Q & A at the end of the presentation.
More information can be found on the flyer below. Bookings essential. Please book via the link HERE.
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Virtual Cultural Awareness Training 'Cultural Insight Experience'
Going Rural Health hosted our first virtual Cultural Training workshop in April, with local traditional custodian Bonnie Chew. The workshop was held in two 3 hour parts a week apart. Feedback from participants was.............................
The next workshop is currently planned for August. The workshops are free for students**, and incur a small fee for staff. Bookings essential. For more information and to book visit our Eventbrite page HERE.
**Students please email Trish Thorpe at: trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au for free booking links. |
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External Education & Resources | |
Allied Health Paediatric Videoconference Series 2021
MAY:
Topic: Multidisciplinary Management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adolescents. Presented by Amanda Apple (Physiotherapist), Ally Thompson (Occupational Therapist), Matt Hodges (Psychologist), TBC (Clinical Psychologist): Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (RCH)
When: Thursday 27th May, 1-2 pm
Book via the link HERE.
JUNE:
Topic: Maximising therapeutic outcome when anxiety is present: tips from Clinical Psychology. Presented by Natasha Dean, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (RCH).
When: Monday 1st June, 1-2pm
Book via the link HERE.
Head to Help: A Free Mental Health Service For All Victorians
This is a service available through the Primary Health Network (PHN), for Victorians of any age experiencing mental ill-health - whether they have a GP mental health plan or not. The service is FREE, and no appointments are required.
Phone: 1800 595 212 8.30am - 5pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
For more details see the website HERE.
NOTE: This is NOT a crisis service.
For urgent support call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Out of hours and weekends call Beyond Blue on 1800 512 348.
Yarning SafeNStrong - A New Counselling Service for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service has established Yarning SafeNStrong: a free and confidential counselling service for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week to people and families who need to have a yarn with someone about their wellbeing.
Phone: 1800 959 563
For more information see the website HERE.
Three Rivers UDRH
Three Rivers UDRH supports health professionals, staff and students by offering free online courses. The following two courses are especially relevant:
Three Rivers UDRH Rural Clinical Placements – How to grow your own course .
Three Rivers UDRH Telehealth - Embracing Technology in Healthcare
Student telehealth placements resource
There is a great resource available from SARRAH about student telehealth placements. It is a copy of the presentation from a recent webinar. Access it via the link below:
SARRAH webinar student TH placements Robyn Gill
PHN resources
WestVic PHN and Murray PHN also have education available in regional and rural areas. See their websites for details of what is on in your region:
WestVic PHN: https://westvicphn.com.au/events-education/upcoming-events/
Murray PHN: https://www.murrayphn.org.au/events/ |
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Going Rural Health & UDRH Research | |
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The Going Rural Health program sits within the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) of The University of Melbourne. The UDRH undertakes a number of research projects, some of which relate to student placements - from both the student perspective, and of those who support students (supervisors and placement support staff).
Student Placement Survey
As previously mentioned, Going Rural Health are trying to ensure that students get the best placement experience possible. Please help us to do this by directing students to complete our Student Placement Survey. It is a short online survey that should only take students 10-15 minutes to complete.
Supervisor & Placement Support Staff Survey
Going Rural Health are undertaking a research project to gain a better understanding of rural clinical placements, from the perspective of those who support students (supervisors and placement support staff). Many of you will have already received an email from one of the Going Rural Health team members to invite you to participate, and to encourage you to share the invite with your colleagues. Visit the Going Rural Health webpage HERE for more details.
Report Published - The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Rural Placements
Many thanks to the students who took the time to complete the online questionnaire sent to them when they had a scheduled placement in 2020. Interviews were conducted with 29 students, randomly selected from those who volunteered at the end of the questionnaire, which 1505 students completed. Students were drawn from University Departments of Rural Health across Australia, along with the research team. Researchers are continuing to explore many aspects of the key findings.
The full report can be found HERE.
If you would like any further information on any of these projects, please contact the Going Rural Health team at going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au . |
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Going Rural Health Website | |
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www.goingruralhealth.com.au
All our resources for students and staff/supervisors can still be found in the student or staff menus. Please feel free to contact us at going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au if you have any items to add or queries regarding content.
The website has a new videos page, that contains all videos relevant to student rural placements. Find the new page HERE. |
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The University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health acknowledges the financial support provided by the Australian Government, through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training program, for the Going Rural Health program.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which our campuses are located, pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Indigenous Australians. |
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