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.

I suppose we are well and truly in the middle of the 'living with COVID' phase - after an initial explosion of cases as things opened up at the start of the year, case numbers are on the downward trend, as are cases in hospital and ICU. The start of the school year also meant larger transmission rates among young children and their parents, especially as the group could not be fully vaccinated before the start of term. The high rates of vaccination though appears to have reduced severity of infection in the majority of the population - being fully vaccinated, including the booster as indicated, has been shown to have a protective effect for not just severe disease, but also from getting COVID in the first place (CDC data 2021: see the report HERE.) So one more good reason to get your boosters as they are due!

Rural areas are also still seeing high rates of infection. The Code Brown that was called a few weeks ago gave services and staff a little much needed breathing space. Let's hope the downward trend in cases and hospitalisations continues. Please ensure you still socially distance, use masks in areas where you can't or where required, and sanitise those hands. I'm sure we are all getting a little sick of it so are getting lax, but we still need to be vigilant for the sake of our health professionals and individuals at high risk.

 The Going Rural Health team

Going Rural Health student support

Student Health & Wellbeing Support

Rural Placements wanted!

Rural Job Vacancies

Going Rural Health Extended Rural Immersion Clinic (ERIC)

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

Health Services Research Training Fellowships

Going Rural Health Website

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.

From 2022, longer placements and those in smaller rural centres will attract more financial assistance. More information on the Going Rural Health Student Support Scheme, including how to apply & eligibility criteria, 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.

There are a number of wellbeing supports available to students while they are on placement. Details are available on the Going Rural Health website on our 'Online Resources for Students page, and also outlined below:

1. CRANA Plus Bush Support Services: Toll free 24hr free phone counselling service for those in rural areas, including students while they are on placement. Phone 1800 805 391 anytime.
2. CRANA Plus free course: Adapting Self-Care Practices During Clinical Placement
3. National Rural Health Student Network Mental Health guide: When the Cowpat Hits the Windmill

4. The Going Rural Health Wellbeing & Resilience course:

   To access the course, follow this link HERE.

   You will need to register for the website (if you haven’t already), log-in to the website, and enrol to complete the course.

   If you have any issues with access please contact the team at going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

5. Health & Wellbeing Service – telehealth appointments:

   The Rural Clinical School offers telehealth counselling services while students are on placement. Please see the link HERE for more details and to book an appointment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a backlog of placements for universities for many disciplines, which will end up leading to delays in students graduating, and as a result less health professionals available for the workforce.

Do you think your organisation might be able to host a nursing or allied health student (or two)? Going Rural Health can help you develop placements and support placement students.

For more information please contact Trish Thorpe at  trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au

The team are now providing another platform for rural and regional organisations to advertise their employment opportunities to our network. Please feel free to send the details of any vacancies to Trish Thorpe at trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au

Priceline Pharmacy Shepparton: Pharmacist-In-Charge

A full-time Pharmacist-In-Charge role has become available at Priceline Pharmacy Shepparton Market Place. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a self-motivated genuine and highly organised individual to work with a friendly team that endeavours to provide outstanding customer service.

Skills required:

• AHPRA Pharmacist Registration
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills
• Customer focused with exceptional knowledge of pharmacy products and services
• Emphasis on professional services with ability to implement and execute new services
• Inventory management and stock ordering
• Experience with FRED Dispense is an advantage
• Accurate and efficient dispensing
• Experience with Dose Administration Aid packing and checking

The pharmacy does not offer Opioid Substitution Programs and does not service any Aged Care Facilities. 

This is a full-time position and will involve weekends. An attractive remuneration package will be offered to the successful candidate depending on level of experience and knowledge.  

Email resume to: melvin@sheppartonpharmacy.com.au

NOTE: The pharmacy is also looking for an intern pharmacist. Please email the address above for details.

Beaufort & Skipton Health Service

Beaufort & Skipton Health Service are looking to fill a number of positions in nursing and allied health. For details please see the health service job alerts page, via the link HERE.

Apex Health – Cobram

Apex Health are looking for a Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. The positions are also open to casual staff or locums. Please see the Facebook job ad HERE or more details in the following attachments:

Position-Description-Physiotherapist

OT-position-description

Neuro Spark Rehab – Shepparton

Neuro Spark Rehab are looking for a Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. Please see the attachments below for more details:

Neuro Spark Rehab OT

Neuro Spark Rehab Physio

Thrive Paediatric – Shepparton

Thrive Paediatric are looking for an Occupational Therapist. For more details see the job ad on Seek HERE.

In 2021, Going Rural Health have organised a new 'Extended Rural Immersion Clinic' (ERIC) for physiotherapy students.  This will continue for 2022.

ERIC students complete multiple consecutive rural placements over an extended period, from 10-20 weeks, to immerse the students in the rural community. Emerging research evidence shows that immersion placements for nursing and allied health students are more likely to result in students working in rural locations.

If your organisation would like to participate in this program, please contact the Going Rural Health team at going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

Online Going Rural Health Education

Going Rural Health have a new Learning Centre on the Going Rural Health website. Access the Learning Centre HERE. 

Participants will need to register for the website, log-in and enroll in courses. Certificates of completion will be automatically generated upon successful completion of courses. If you have any problems with this process please contact the team at going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

Courses will be added as they are released, but the site currently has 7 courses live:

• Online Introduction to Rural Practice: this is our updated course introducing students and new staff to practicing in a rural community. Great for those new to rural health.
• Wellbeing and Resilience: an updated version of our Resilience module, the course has been moved to the Learning Centre for easier access. Health professionals - including health students - as a group don't tend to look after themselves well; this course gives insight and tips as to how to look after ourselves better.
• Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback: This is a combination of our original two separate courses (Giving Feedback, and Receiving Feedback), as much of the content was similar. Provides tips to better receive feedback, especially if it is negative, and ways to provide more effective feedback to staff and students.
• Communication: Tools to optimise your communication skills and ensure the perceived message is the intended message.
• Social Media Posting for Health Professionals. A package, particularly for young health students or experienced health professionals new to social media, that discusses the pitfalls and risks associated with social media posting on various platforms.
• Responding Effectively to Upset and Complaining Patients or Family. This course discusses methods to work with these individuals for best outcomes.
• Critical Thinking & Clinical Reasoning. This topic discusses what critical thinking is and how to implement into your everyday practice as a health practitioner.

Online Cultural Training - for Students ONLY

Going Rural Health, in collaboration with a Yorta Yorta traditional custodian from the Shepparton region, have developed an online cultural training course for students. The course can be accessed via our website HERE.

Education - March/April 2022

STAFF:

Introduction to Supervision Workshop

Wangaratta: Thursday 7th April, 9am - 12pm

More information and bookings via this link HERE.

Advanced Supervision Workshop

Event dates 2022:

Wangaratta: 22nd March, 10am-12pm

Zoom (any region): 21st April, 10am-12pm

Shepparton: 26th May, 2-4pm

Cost: $50

Bookings essential. For more information, and to book, visit our booking page  HERE.

STUDENTS:

Student Tutorials 2022

Aimed at students but also suitable for new graduates.

Building Career Readiness Skills: March 7th, 10-11am, via Zoom

Critical Thinking & Clinical Reasoning: March 15th, 9.30-10.30am, via Zoom

Ownership of Learning: March 17th, 9-10am, via Zoom

Building Career Readiness Skills: April 26th, 10-11am, via Zoom

More information, and to book, visit: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/9u7i

Cultural Competency in Aboriginal Health Training

The Department of Rural Health invites allied health, pharmacy, nursing and medical students from all Universities to participate in a free Cultural Competency in Aboriginal Health training workshop. Robynne Nelson delivers a highly informative and valuable session on Cultural Competency in Aboriginal Health, helping you to increase your skills and knowledge for working with Indigenous people and communities in a more culturally appropriate and effective way.

Shepparton details:

When:  Thursday 5th May, 9.30am-3.30pm

             Thursday 4th August, 9.30am-3.30pm

             Thursday 13th October, 9.30am-3.30pm

Where: University of Melbourne Rural Campus, 49 Graham St Shepparton

Wangaratta details:

When:   Friday 1st April, 9.30am-3.30pm

              Thursday 22nd September, 9.30am-3.30pm

Where: University of Melbourne Rural Campus, 'The Chalet' Docker St, Wangaratta

Shepparton and Wangaratta workshops are for STUDENTS ONLY. COVID-19 requirements apply.

Bookings essential. For more information, and to book, visit http://go.unimelb.edu.au/9u7i

Ballarat details:

The Going Rural Health team at the University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health invites all nursing and allied health students to participate in Aboriginal Cultural Insight Experience Virtual Workshops. Nursing and allied health university and health service staff are also welcome to attend. Traditional Owner Bonnie Chew will conduct virtual cultural awareness workshops introducing students and staff to past and present Aboriginal Australia. These sessions will give students and staff an insight into the Aboriginal history in Australia and an opportunity to discuss meeting the health and well-being needs of today’s community in a meaningful and culturally appropriate manner.

When: Tuesday 31st May, 9.30am-4.30pm.

            Thursday 14th July, 9.30am-4.30pm.

            Wednesday 30th November, 9.30am-4.30pm

Where: University of Melbourne Rural Campus, 806 Mair St, Ballarat.

Cost: Staff $30. Students: FREE. 

COVID-19 requirements apply.

Bookings essential. To book, visit our Eventbrite page HERE. NOTE: Students - please contact Trish Thorpe trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au for student booking links.

Please contact the education team via the Going Rural Health email address: going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au  for details of all education, if any issues with bookings, or to book a virtual session from the education list at Education topics.

New Interdisciplinary Graduate Education & Learning (NiGEL) Series

Going Rural Health introduced a new free education series for graduates and early career health professionals in 2021. This series was intended to support new graduates and early career professionals to develop their transferable skills and non-discipline-specific knowledge in health care. 

After discussions with multiple health service staff, these sessions will be recorded and accessible soon via the Going Rural Health Learning Centre as part of a learning series (NIGEL Series). A discussion board will be made available to participants for some topics, to simulate the conversations which would normally occur in a live event. This will be monitored periodically by Going Rural Health staff.

For more information please contact:

Trish Thorpe trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au

University of Melbourne Public Webinar:

Are we there yet? - On International Women's Day a 2nd wave feminist looks at the balance sheet

LGBTIQA+ Group Supervision

Want to learn more about working with LGBTIQ+ people as a health professional? Join Lachlan Slade for these group supervision sessions.

For more information, and to book (various dates available), visit https://events.humanitix.com/group-supe#

Allied Health Paediatric Videoconference Series

March: Adolescent hip pain & pathologies

When: Wednesday 22nd March 2022, 1-2pm

Presenter: Dr David Slattery, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Orthotics Department RCH

Registration: via Eventbrite HERE.

April: Introducing Solids

When: Tuesday 12th April 2022, 1-2pm

Presenter: Sarah Efklides, Dietitian, Department of Nutrition & Food Services, RCH

Registration: via Eventbrite HERE.

Registration is via the Eventbrite links and it closes 2 business days before each presentation. It is free to attend and we encourage any health professional interested to view one or all of them.

If you have any questions about this series please email education.outreach@rch.org.au

Free Student Resource From CRANA plus:

Adapting Self-Care Practices During Clinical Placement

The resource is for any student preparing for a placement in a rural or remote setting. To access the resource, visit the webpage HERE. 

Allied Health Clinical Educators Network Clinical Supervision Modules

The Allied Health Clinical Educators’ Network (AHCEN), has released some modules on training staff in clinical supervision. They include:

• Setting up a clinical supervision relationship
• Providing effective feedback
• Developing Clinical Reasoning through Supervision
• Supporting Wellbeing through Clinical Supervision

For more details see the document 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/

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.

NOTE: We will soon be entering another round of data collection. Regardless of whether you have completed this before, we encourage you to complete our survey, to help target Going Rural Health support to staff and students.

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 .

Health Services Research Training Fellowships for established front-line clinical staff, commencing July 2022

Applications are encouraged from fully qualified clinicians (Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health professionals) who are keen to bring Health Services Research (HSR) to bear on practical healthcare problems and take steps towards becoming a leader of innovative care.

The MacHSR (pronounced "Maxer") Future Leader Fellowship program will support a select cadre of front-line clinical staff from MACH-affiliated health services to address practical healthcare problems through HSR training and solutions. Without detriment to salary, each Fellow will be released from clinical duties for 0.2 FTE per week for one year, on a flexible basis, to upskill in HSR knowledge and work with (an) expert academic supervisor(s) to address a problem pertinent to their health service. Formal HSR training will be offered to all MacHSR Fellows with registration for the University of Melbourne Master of Public Health elective in HSR.

Eligibility

MacHSR is open to fully qualified Doctors, Nurses and Allied Health professionals employed by a MACH-affiliated health service, who want to gain HSR expertise for dissemination within their health service, and show promise to become a future leader in innovative care.

Applicants will have identified an important problem within their health service that could be addressed with a HSR solution, and gained support from their health service manager prior to application. Prior research experience is desirable.

Application Process

Selection will be undertaken through an application and interview process led by the Director for MacHSR, Professor Harriet Hiscock. Applications should be sent by 9am Monday 21st March 2022 to lauren.wallis@unimelb.edu.au and must include:

1. Full CV, including brief details of any research projects undertaken
2. A maximum two-page proposal outlining the practical problem of interest pertinent to the health service and how it might be addressed by HSR
3. A brief letter of support from the Health Service divisional/operational/professional manager responsible to senior management for the clinician's unit confirming that the applicant is well placed to develop an interest in HSR, has the potential to become a future leader of innovative care, has in principle support for 0.2 FTE time-release from clinical duties if successful, and that the identified problem is important to address (template available here).

Interviews will be held in early May 2022 ahead of a mid July 2022 start.

Full details are available on the MACH Australia website.
Alternatively, you can find further information in the attached PDF here. 

Applications close 9am 21st March 2022.