Mental health career opportunities in Gippsland
The group of 2013 Mental Health vacation school students and MUDRIH staff.
Eighteen students from four universities took part in the 2013 Gippsland Mental Health Vacation School program.
Hosted by MUDRIH, the five day program provided students with an insight into living and working in the mental health and alcohol and drug service sectors in Gippsland.
The program topics on Monday and Friday provided students with an overview of the mental health and alcohol and drug service system, an insight into current trends in treatment and support in the two fields and the opportunity to ask a panel of workers from the region about living and working in Gippsland.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were spent traveling and visiting a variety of mental health and alcohol and drug services across the region.
The busy schedule was broken up by some social activities, with the highlight this year a ‘Christmas in July’ dinner at Gippsland TAFE’s Waratah Restaurant.
Coordinated by MUDRIH, the program would not be possible without the support of the mental health and alcohol and drug services providers across the region. This year, 15 organisations from across Gippsland supported the program by providing guest speakers and/or hosting student visits.
As a further innovation, the project team is currently trialling the use of social media to allow students to maintain links to the region following the vacation school.
Facilitated by MUDRIH, students and service providers are invited to a closed group environment in which students are provided with information about placement and employment opportunities in the region, information regarding professional development opportunities and are encouraged to share their achievements.
The team also hopes to trial an ‘on-line’ version of the vacation school in late 2013. For further information contact Keith Sutton.