GOING RURAL HEALTH NEWS
The Going Rural Health Newsletter
Edition 34 - April 2023
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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 (GRH) team. Team members are located in Ballarat, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The year is flying by - we are fast coming up to the Easter break. The GRH team will be out of office from Good Friday to Easter Tuesday, inclusive, as per the university's Easter break. Check out our Easter student engagement events in the 'Going Rural Health Student Events' section - we are giving away free hot chocolate packs to students who register this Easter (conditions apply). We also have a separate student photo competition running at this time - so get your students snapping while on placement!

Have a great, safe Easter. Try to keep the chocolate intake to a moderate amount - or just eat dark chocolate, which is healthier and also fantastic for your mental health.

 The Going Rural Health team

In this month's edition:

Going Rural Health student support

Student Health & Wellbeing Support

Going Rural Health People & Promotions

Going Rural Health Student Events

Rural Mental Health Placements Available

Rural Job Vacancies

Going Rural Health Education

Save the Date! - Hume Region Allied Health Conference 2023

University of Melbourne Events & Webinars

External Events, Education & Resources

Going Rural Health and University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) Research

Going Rural Health Website

Going Rural Health Student Support

Going Rural Health (GRH) 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.

2023 Changes: There have been a number of changes to the eligibility criteria in 2023. Some of the changes are that students are no longer eligible for funding if they apply after their placements have concluded, or if they decline accommodation offered. 

More information about the Going Rural Health Student Support Scheme, including how to apply & eligibility criteria, is available HERE.

Student Health & Wellbeing Support

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 enroll (click 'start now') 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.

 

Going Rural Health People & Promotions

GRH Team News

We will welcome a new GRH team member in our Shepparton office in April - Peter Sleeth. Peter has a nursing background, and has extensive experience in the teaching and learning space.

Submit your short video 

Are you a nursing or allied health student currently completing, or have completed, a regional or rural placement?

We're on the look-out for new stories from our student and alumni community to bring our video projects to life. Scan the QR code or follow the below link to get started:

go.unimelb.edu.au/5oxe

 

NEW Going Rural Health News Page

We have recently added a news page to the Going Rural Health website, available via the top menu under 'News" or via the link HERE.

In this we have links to all our news items, including our news posts, which are also accessible below.

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Going Rural Health Student Events

 

 

Going Rural Health are giving away FREE chocolate this Easter to health students in regional/rural areas. 

 

Enter our photo competition to win a Nib & Noble Hot Chocolate Pack HERE.

NOTE: Terms and conditions apply. View information at the link above for details.

 

Register to pick up a Hot Chocolate Goodie Pack (pictured above) HERE.

NOTE: Registrations open 27th February. Pick ups from selected sites only. Pick ups at other sites can't be guaranteed. See the registration link for more details.

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Rural Mental Health Placements Available

Student Psychology Placements in Wangaratta

A new psychology clinic has been established at Gateway Health in Wangaratta to provide culturally safe and appropriate mental health services, drawing on the skills of postgraduate psychology students.

The Gateway Health Psychology Clinic offers a nurturing and professionally stimulating vocational placement experience for their placement psychologists. Supervisors are an experienced team of psychologists and clinical psychologists. Placement psychologists are an integral part of the Gateway team.

Who can apply?

If you are a Masters or Doctoral candidate studying relevant counselling, clinical, professional, neuropsychology or educational psychology courses you can apply to do a vocational placement with Gateway Health.

Placements are still available for 2023. Contact the team now to apply! 

 

Wellbeing Placements in rural communities

Through this program, also available are interprofessional service-learning placements in more remote communities working with local primary schools, sporting clubs, mother’s groups, and other groups to deliver holistic mental health support programs. These placements provide a unique and beneficial learning experience that can have a huge impact on rural and remote communities.

By creating new placement programs in communities that need the services most, we are delivering a two-pronged approach; providing an enriching learning experience to students and offering rural communities a service they may not have received otherwise.

Who can apply?

Nursing and allied health students in the disciplines of social work, occupational therapy, dietetics, nutrition, physiotherapy, exercise physiology or other allied health disciplines who require as part of their curriculum an undertaking of practical learning through a placement program can apply.

 

For more information about these placements, visit the website HERE or contact the Going Rural Health team at going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

 

Rural Job Vacancies

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 for advertising in this newsletter to Trish Thorpe at trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au

We can also advertise on our website and social media platforms!

 
 
 
Going Rural Health are hiring!

Going Rural Health seeks an educator to develop, support and teach into community-based rural mental health and wellbeing student placements for its Mental Health and Wellbeing for Remote and Aboriginal Victorians project. 

The role works from an interprofessional, service learning model to support and educate students to provide rural mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention in community settings in northeast Victoria.

For more information visit the job page HERE.

 

 

Physiotherapist (FT/PT) Wanted - Re-Vitalise Physiotherapy & Pilates Ballarat

Re-Vitalise Physiotherapy & Pilates is a contemporary and innovative practice that provides a range of services including Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy, Women’s Men’s and Paediatric Pelvic Health Physiotherapy, Dry Needling, Real-Time Ultrasound and Clinical Pilates in our distinct and tailored studio. 

An exciting opportunity exists for a dynamic and motivated physiotherapist, who shows a genuine interest, relatability and high-quality service to our clients and broader community. 

Position open to both graduates and experienced physiotherapists. 

For more information, and to apply visit the job ad on Seek HERE.

 
 
 
University of Melbourne's FREE 'Post a Job' Page
Do you want to advertise your job ad with University of Melbourne Alumni and students?

Careers Online is the University of Melbourne's official online careers resource where you can advertise your organisation’s employment and work experience opportunities. More than 10,000 University of Melbourne students, recent graduates and alumni access Careers Online every month.

You can self-post your job ad at this site free of charge, at any time, via the link HERE.  All instructions on how to post are on this page.

Going Rural Health Education

Online Going Rural Health Education

Have you seen the Going Rural Health Online Learning Centre on our website? We have a number of free courses for both students and health professionals. To access the Learning Centre visit the webpage HERE. 

Participants will need to register for the website, log-in and enrol 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 11 free courses & 1 paid course live:

  • NEW! Supervision Principles for the Novice Supervisor: This course, aimed towards novice supervisors, takes participants through the basics of student supervision, in order to get the best out of students. An adjunct workshop is also offered for a small fee; sessions for 2023 will be scheduled early in the new year.
  • New Interdisciplinary Graduate Education and Learning (NIGEL) Series: One of our newest courses, this course is targeted towards mostly non-clinical learning for new graduates, especially those working in regional and rural areas. Covering 9 topics, this will help health professionals new to practice with the transferable skills they need in their day-to-day work.
  • Human Rights in Healthcare: This course looks at how human rights apply to healthcare, particularly from a regional/rural lens.
  • Project Supervision for Student Placements: This course provides some tips on selecting and designing placement projects that fit timeframes, student learning requirements, and desired outcomes for all.
  • 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.

We currently have 2 courses in development:

  • Supervision for Service Learning Placements
  • Interprofessional Education for Rural Student Placements

Keep an eye on the newsletter and our social media platforms - we will advertise the new courses via these when they are released.

 

Online Cultural Learning - for Students ONLY

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

Education

Introduction to Supervision Workshop

When: Wednesday 12th April 2023, 9am-12pm

Where: Online via Zoom

Cost: $30

This session aims to provide an overview and some practical skills for supervisors who have had limited or no recent experience working with Health profession students.

It may also be relevant as a refresher for those returning to supervision or are new to supervising in the Service-Learning context.

Key topics include:

  • The role of the supervisor
  • Preparing for supervision
  • Setting expectations
  • Effective feedback principles

For more information, please contact going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

 

 

 

Understanding Dementia 

This workshop provides an overview of dementia, including signs, symptoms, causes, and an understanding of how dementia affects the brain and behaviour. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their practice and ways this knowledge translates into person-centred support for people living with dementia.

Resources and information about services available to carers will be provided.

 

Who: This workshop is for students in various care settings providing support to people living with dementia.

When: 14th June 2023, 1.30-3.30pm (2 hours)

Where: Virtual classroom session via Zoom, with interactive elements. EACH participant is required to have access to a desktop computer, laptop or tablet with a webcam.

Registrations: Registrations close 4 days prior to the event. All participants must register themselves individually. Registrations are via the link HERE.

More Information: A Zoom link and participant workbook will be emailed to those who have registered 2 days prior to the event. If you have any questions please contact Lauren Woodhart e: lauren.woodhart@unimelb.edu.au

 

 

 

University of Melbourne Supervisor Training: Providing feedback to students in a clinical environment.

When: Thursday 4 May at 4 pm

Where: Online via Zoom.

 

This interprofessional event is open to our Clinical Educator partners from all disciplines within our faculty (PT, SP, Social Work, Psychology, Audiology, Optometry, Nursing) and provides an opportunity to network with others in clinical education, share ideas and experiences. 

 

The session will provide:

• understandings about different models of feedback

• best practice for proving constructive and positive feedback

• breakout rooms of Interprofessional clinical educators

• discussion of feedback scenarios

• a Q&A session of interprofessional educators to discuss this important topic

 

Please register at this link for this interprofessional event HERE.

 

 

Aboriginal Cultural Learning Workshops 2023

Ballarat region with Bonnie Chew: For students AND staff

CHARLTON: Thursday 13th July 10am - 4pm, East Wimmera Health Service

MARYBOROUGH: Tuesday 3rd October 9.30am - 4.30pm, Maryborough District Health Service

To book into any of these sessions visit the link  HERE.

 

Hume Region with Robynne Nelson: For students ONLY

SHEPPARTON:

27th April, 9am-3.30pm, University of Melbourne Shepparton Campus

17th August, 9am-3.30pm, University of Melbourne Shepparton Campus

3rd October, 9am-3.30pm, University of Melbourne Shepparton Campus

WANGARATTA:

16th May, 9am-3.30pm, 'The Chalet' University of Melbourne Wangaratta Campus

9th September, 9am-3.30pm, 'The Chalet' University of Melbourne Wangaratta Campus

 

To book for any of the Shepparton and Wangaratta workshops, visit the link HERE.

 

Please contact the education team via the Going Rural Health email address: going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au  for details of all education, or if any issues with bookings.

Save the Date! - Hume Region Allied Health Conference 2023

SAVE THE DATE! 

Join us at the Hume Region Allied Health Conference on the 26th of October 2023.

Alongside the North East and Goulburn Valley Allied Health Education Group, we're working to deliver this fantastic conference at the University of Melbourne Shepparton campus. More details to come.

Learn more  HERE.

University of Melbourne Webinars & Events

The Melbourne School of Population and Global Health are looking for participants aged 18 – 29 years old and living in rural/regional Victoria to provide feedback on what they’d want in an online sexual health service. All participants will be reimbursed.

Please share this with your networks including friends and family who fit the above criteria. Otherwise, if you fit the criteria please consider participating.

Further information is below:

  • Interested participants will be asked to complete an online survey and attend two half-day workshops in person to provide feedback
  • Participants will be reimbursed for their time, including travel time
  • For all enquiries, contact: e-sti@unimelb.edu.au 

To express your interest, please visit the link and fill in the form HERE.

 

 

2023 University of Melbourne Webinars

 

Past Webinars

Past recordings of webinars are available via the DRH website (link below).

 

Department of Rural Health Facebook: DRH Facebook

Department of Rural Health Website: DRH Website



External Events, Education & Resources

Free webinar: Respiratory health in neurodisability  

Children with neurodisability are vulnerable to respiratory complications such as frequent upper respiratory infections, aspiration and pneumonia. This session will provide overview and case examples of respiratory therapy. 

Date: Thu 30th Mar 2023 at 1-2pm

Presenter: Lisa Robson and Aisha Barton-Ross, Physiotherapists Complex Care and Oncology

Register: via the link HERE. 

 

Allied Health Clinical Supervision Framework

Accessible online FREE via the Department of Health website HERE.

 

Paediatric Nursing Webinars 2023

A number of free webinars about paediatric nursing will be available for regional/rural health professionals in 2023. Recordings of past webinars are also available.
 
To access the schedule and register for any webinar you will need to register for a free account HERE.
 
 

Allied Health Paediatric Webinars 2023

A number of free webinars on paediatric Allied Health topics will be available for regional/rural health professionals in 2023. Recordings of past webinars are also available.
 
To access the schedule and register for any webinar you will need to register for a free account HERE. 
 
 
 

SARRAH Leadership Program 2023 Dates

Program 2: 28/08/2023 - 06/10/2023

Gain the skills and knowledge to lead and manage your organisation and enhance your career opportunities through leading, mentoring, and coaching.


This course is ideal not only for allied health professionals but any individuals aiming to become a successful leader and agent for change in the rural and remote health landscape of Australia. SARRAH offers flexible and affordable study options including online learning and discounted rates for SARRAH members.  

The course has been built around four key topics:

  • Leadership Vs Management
  • "Being" leadership
  • "Doing" leadership
  • "Maintaining" leadership 

For more information, and to enroll, visit the link HERE.

 

 
My Allied Health Space is a great resource for allied health professionals and allied health students working in the field of disability.
It provides information, tools and training resources and supports the Allied health capability framework: https://vimeo.com/490266139
To access this great resource, visit the website here: https://www.myalliedhealthspace.org/

 

LGBTIQA+ Group Supervision

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

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

 

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. 

 

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 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/.

Going Rural Health & UDRH Research

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.

 

Department of Rural Health (DRH) Survey

Please take time to participate in this 20-minute survey to help better understand how mental health, physical health, wellbeing and access to health services can be challenged during widespread disruptions and how people can be supported during these times. ­­­­­­­

The survey can be accessed here: 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 .

Going Rural Health Website

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.

Contact Details

Newsletter: To subscribe or change your subscription, please click here.

If you would like to contribute to Going Rural Health news please email your contribution to trish.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au

Email: going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

Website: www.goingruralhealth.com.au 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoingRuralHealth/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoingRuralHlth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goingruralhealth/

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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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