Bree Morris takes on the task of shoulder strapping for Moe football assistant coach and star play James Blaser, who won the team’s best and fairest, before one of the recent games in the Gippsland League.

Gippsland Year 4C student Bree Morris has been braving the chilly Gippsland winter afternoons as well as extending her medical experience by helping out at one of the local football netball clubs.

Bree answered a call from the Moe Football Netball Club, which competes in the Gippsland League, for anyone interested in helping out the trainers.  With a long term interest in sports medicine, Bree went along to several games and learned a bit about pre-game strapping for ankles, knees and shoulders as well the intricacies of the pre-game rubdown.

Bree was also able to help the trainers – a number of them long term volunteers – by sharing some of her knowledge and skills.

Certainly her efforts were much appreciated by the club … and expanded her learning experience at the same time!

The Monash University Medical Undergraduate Society (MUMUS) Teddy Bear Hospital was held at Leongatha Primary School recently and introduced a grand total of 93 grade prep students to hospital and clinical settings.

The MUMUS Teddy Bear Hospital was run by Monash medical students who played the role of Teddy doctors.  Through the event Monash students aim to help reduce the anxiety children may experience if they or someone close to them has to go to hospital.

The preps each filled out a chart about their teddy, stating why teddy needed to go to hospital. The children were then divided into smaller groups to visit four stations: Ambulance and Emergency; Hygiene and Surgery; Exercise and Healthy Eating and X-ray and Plastering.

At the stations Teddy doctors took the preps through what you should do if someone is hurt, what happens when someone has an operation and why the doctor might need to take an X-ray.

At the healthy eating station the preps got the chance to munch on some of the fresh fruit.

Teddies of all shapes and sizes attended the event, including dogs, a hammerhead shark and superman. These poor teddies were afflicted with sore tummies, broken legs and in the case of the hammerhead, one killer headache.

Despite their suffering a lot of fun was had by all. “This is awesome”, exclaimed one prep while gowned and masked at the Surgery station. Fortunately all teddies were feeling a lot better by the end of the day.

Thank you to the teachers and children at Leongatha Primary School for hosting the MUMUS Teddy Bear Hospital.

–  By Margaret Young, Year 4C South Gippsland

RFDS trivia winning team

Travellers from the Sunraysia community flocked to The Grand Hotel in August for a special event – the Royal Flying Doctors Service Trivia Fundraising Night 2013, hosted by the Monash University’s rural health student club Wildfire.

Headed by MC Captain Fleur Muirhead and assisted by the air hostesses from Wildfire Airlines, all passengers had a pleasant and enjoyable flight.

There were 110 passengers from the local and wider community who participated in the evening. Among the attendees were staff from Monash University’s Mildura Regional Clinical School and the Mildura Base Hospital as well as members from sporting and Rotary clubs.

Gary Layton, General Manager of Primary Health Care with the Royal Flying Doctors Service was also present and spoke about future initiatives as well as what the service does in the Sunraysia area and across Australia.

After departure the questions and games got underway. And it is fair to say that while some teams took off, others were left to travel with the baggage! Several tables were in close contention for first class although the wooden spoon was clearly taken out by the netballers.

In the end it was all down to the music round and famous faces that determined who took out the top spot. Upon arrival, it was a combination of medical students and out-of-towners that took out first place. Prizes included hampers from local businesses that generously donated vouchers and goods to support the night.

The event was very successful, raising a total of $2500 for the Royal Flying Doctors Service from both ticket and raffle sales. It was well received by both the local community and particularly by the RFDS. Without the support of the community, the Wildfire Mildura sub-committee and the staff from the Mildura Regional Clinical School this would not have been possible. We hope that Wildfire initiatives such as this can become an annual event to continue improving our relationship with and support for the RFDS, who provides such a crucial service to our rural communities.

– By Catherine Smale, Secretary Wildfire Mildura sub-committee 2013

Guests at the NAIDOC celebrations

The team at MUDRIH celebrated this year’s National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) with a tasty luncheon, inviting guests from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, staff, industry colleagues, partners and friends.

The group also included representatives from the Gippsland Medicare Local, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Department of Human Services and Latrobe Community Health Service.

Tanisha Smitherson from the Gippsland Medicare Local gave the Acknowledgement and everyone enjoyed the luncheon and company. The group reflected on the state of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing and the individual and combined efforts to create positive outcomes for the local and national Australian Indigenous communities.

East Gippsland Regional Clinical School has hosted an information night for Koori students interested in a career in the health sector.

The evening in early August included a discussion forum on pathways and support for careers in Medicine, Nursing and other Health Professions.

The forum at the School’s Bairnsdale campus was highly successful, with 19 attendees, including community members and representatives from many key organisations. The event opened with a welcome by Uncle Albert Mullett, followed by a presentation by Doris Paton and Debra Blaber. They highlighted findings from their research into identifying ways in which more local Aboriginal people could work in the health sector.

The steering committee and instigators for this research were the East Gippsland School for Aboriginal Health Professionals (EGSAHP), with support from the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School, local secondary colleges, especially the local Koori Engagement Support Officers (KESOs), students and parents. This project evolved from community members recognising a need in the community.

The research was undertaken in East Gippsland, with surveys conducted at Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance Secondary Colleges. Parents and families also contributed by participating in focus groups or interviews, with a total of 98 people taking part.

The research highlighted the need to raise awareness of careers in the health profession, to identify role models for students in the community, to offer work experience at local health services, as well as providing useful and timely information about health courses and university entry requirements.

While it was said that there should be no barriers to Koori students completing school and pursuing further studies, the research showed that lack of transport, peer pressure, teacher attitudes, financial issues, as well as family support and stability, were all issues for students.

This research and the forum provided an opportunity for EGSAHP, the health services, schools, agencies, parents and community to work collaboratively to improve outcomes. The findings will now provide a direction and way forward for EGSAHP.

–       By Eleanor Mitchell, Lecturer, East Gippsland Regional Clinical School and Department of Rural and Indigenous Health, Monash University

Monash Medical students Denise Bullen, left and Amita Roy, right, presented the work books to Latrobe Special Developmental School students Chelsie, Jack in the chair, and Mahalia, along with School Principal Barb Walsh (pictured behind Jack).

A series of specialist work books have expressed a special thank you for the Latrobe Special Developmental School in Traralgon.

The School takes Gippsland Regional Medical School students on community placements, which help the medical students gain a better understanding of the needs of a wide variety of people.

A number of medical students spent a day at the Special Developmental School, including Denise Bullen and Amita Roy. Both were delighted to present the work books to the School and its students to say thanks for their placement opportunity.

“It was just wonderful,” Denise said. “We were able to spend the whole day at the school and get a different perspective on working with many different people. It was an excellent experience.”

The much anticipated ‘Night at the Museum’ event to end second term at Mildura Primary School provided a fantastic opportunity for Monash Regional Clinical School to engage with the community and provide a variety of props for the Australian History unit showcase event.

More than 270 children experienced the Grade 5/6 museum evening, with many parents also taking the opportunity to view their children’s hard work first hand.

Seven children selected the World War nurses as their topic of choice and these children were extremely grateful for the resources provided by Monash Regional Clinical School.

The other really good news is that Mildura Primary hopes this interaction is the first of many involvements between the two parties!

Charlotte at NAIDOC Week Welcome Baby to Country, Mildura

The following report is by Ann Bowen, sister of Kate Murdoch, the Year 3 Academic Administration officer at Mildura Regional Clinical School. Ann attended this public event, which was sponsored by Monash University.

NAIDOC week was huge for me.  The exciting win in our Pennant Golf Final was trumped by the inaugural “Welcome Baby to Country” ceremony at the Mildura Arts Centre.

A partnership between Monash University, Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Legal Service and the Mildura Arts Centre, the ceremony traditionally ‘welcomed’ all new Koori babies to this country and this community.

At this year’s event there was an air of excitement as the families arrived. They eagerly presented their babies for symbolic face painting, in final preparations for the ceremony.

Huge photographic portrait banners framed the stage.  Film footage of the Murray River made up the backdrop.  The ceremonial possum-skin cloak lay across the grand piano.

Yorta Yorta opera singer, composer and academic, Deborah Cheetham sang The Water is Wide to honour a young Aboriginal man, recently deceased.  She then sang Songs My Mother Taught Me.

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One of the current Mildura students, Tom Kavanagh (Year 4) demonstrates an ear examination in the sim lab to a potential doctor.

Early in June, Mildura Regional Clinical School opened its doors to more than 25 school students, their families and careers advisors, for the annual information evening for aspiring medical students.

Guest speakers included Head of the School of Rural Health, Professor Judi Walker, Mildura Director, Associate Professor Fiona Wright and Juliet Baxter from MBBS admissions Clayton, who gave a very informative and engaging presentation on the pathways into health sciences at Monash.

A range of current medical students and one recent graduate also spoke on their experiences, a privilege enjoyed by those attending.

The students were fantastic ambassadors for Monash University and its medical program and spent considerable time talking with families and students over supper about medicine as a career. The students helped run simulation demonstrations in conjunction with Howard, Jenny and Kristi, Mildura’s formidable simulation /skills lab team.

Thanks for their involvement go to Elliot, Amy, Scott, Charles, Fiona, Thomas Hannah, Steph, Amy (some of the current medical students) and Georgia, a recent Graduate, as well as the staff from Mildura Regional Clinical School.

Of the 45 evaluations completed on the night, 24 were from the secondary students.  Overwhelmingly, the highlights of the evening were skills lab / practical work, and the opportunity to meet current students and hear their stories.

Paired questions to students and parents were asked as to whether the information evening has affected career choices. Obviously it has for some, with this response from one parent: “She definitely knows what she wants to do now – I know from the smile on her face!”

The majority response to “which university / course do you intend to apply for” was Monash Medicine, or variations of medicine.

The intricacies of wool growing and sheep meat production – and even a lesson in sheep tossing – proved an eye opener for Year 2 students in Mildura.

Local veterinarian Dr Bill Sutherland facilitated a fascinating visit to a working farm which combines traditional sheep wool and meat flocks, together with a more modern and lucrative genetics industry involving the production and sale of frozen embryos.

Farm owner Brendan talked for a while about his business outlets. He has recently sold off the bulk of his Merino flock and is now concentrating on Dorper meat-producing sheep.

Bill impressed on the students the inevitability for station owners to put health problems on hold because they need to work to continue to earn and support their family.  Brendan described a close neighbour who has serious mental health problems and depression because he finds it difficult to cope with drought, poor production etc.  Hopefully the students took in the messages here.

It was fascinating to hear Brendan describe his farm as being in “the suburbs” only about two hours of a town and shops!

Next it was off to the shearing shed to discover how Dorper rams are thrown onto their backs for veterinary inspection.  These beasts weigh 100kg and although they are docile and compliant once on their backs, they are not so keen to be grabbed and thrown in the first instance.

There were also three merino ewes in the shed for a shearing experience. One poor old girl bore the brunt of the students’ fumbling attempts and came away looking quite motley and moth-eaten!

Brendan’s wife Maureen put on her usual excellent spread for ‘smoko’ and Gerald was so impressed he took several photos.

The trip home was drama-packed.  The very new work car developed a problem, resulting in an unbearably loud, constant metallic squealing noise.  We drove back to Glen-Esk where Bill and Brendan between them agreed that the problem was most likely one involving brake callipers – not potentially disastrous – so Bill bravely drove the Mondeo back to Mildura where he was greeted by Fiona, Ros, and Kate.

The following day a mechanic removed a large limestone pebble from the brakes – worn glassily smooth on one face.

In the shearing shed, where one poor old ewe submitted to the shearing ‘skills’ of the students.