The Koorie Men’s Health Day is an innovative mental health delivery model that was trialled in Gippsland.

The PhD research of Anton Isaacs inspired the development of an innovative model of community-based mental health delivery for Koorie men.  Anton’s research highlighted the difficulties faced by Aboriginal men in accessing mental health services and adhering to treatment.  The study also demonstrated the difficulties faced by staff in addressing the unique needs of Aboriginal men who need mental health care.  As a result, the Koorie Men’s Health Day was developed and trialled.

The Koorie Men’s Health Day model was written up in “The Koorie Men’s Health Day: an innovative model for early detection of mental illness among rural Aboriginal men” by Anton Isaacs and Berwyn Lampitt. (DOI: 10.1177/1039856213502241). This paper describes how a mental health clinician, an academic and Aboriginal Elders worked as a team to design and implement an innovative model for early detection of mental illness among Koorie men in Morwell. The model of service is based in the community, overcomes most barriers faced by Koorie men in accessing help for mental health problems, de-stigmatises mental health and services.  The model appears to be cost efficient, being self-sufficient from beginning to end.

Interest in this model is growing.  Two more Koorie Men’s Health Days are planned for March and September in Gippsland with an expression of interest from Echuca.

Anton is a lecturer at the School of Rural Health – MUDRIH.

Forty-five battered, scruffy, highly loved teddy bears made the exciting journey with children from Parkland’s kindergarten in Morwell to attend the teddy bear hospital at Gippsland Regional Clinical School recently.

A number of Year 3B students put aside their study to introduce the children to a range of positive experiences relating to going to hospital.

Discovering x-rays and bones was a highlight for the children who got to see what our finger bones look like under our skin, plus a teddy bear x-ray. This led into a session about plastering and the lucky children were able to get their thumb or finger plastered.

Students spoke to the children abut emergencies and the number to call if there is an accident.   However, it was pleasing to see that a number of them already had this knowledge. They also got to play with stethoscopes, oxygen masks, and tendon hammers to become familiar with some common equipment they may encounter if attending hospital themselves.

Finally the weather was beautiful and allowed the children to have some time to play outside exploring the topic of exercise. Medical students Sean and Cindy even learnt how to play “duck, duck, goose” and the children’s giggles could be heard across the courtyard.

A big thank you goes to Manny’s Market Traralgon who donated a box of fresh fruit for the children to snack on and discuss healthy eating options.

Overall the teachers, parents and children from Parklands were very impressed by the professionalism shown by the Year 3B students and cannot thank Alex and the students enough for giving up their study time so close to exams to provide such a wonderful, educational learning experience for all involved.

Meagan Presley, Clinical Educator, Gippsland Regional Clinical School

Lionel Dukakis (Program Manager of Wulgunggo Nglau) and the students in front of a sculpture made by the program participants and local Indigenous Elders.

Early on a cold and drizzly September morning 14 undergraduate students left Inverloch with their trusty tutor and coordinator in tow. It was a journey that would see them traverse the beautiful South Gippsland country side in search of the elusive Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place nestled high in the hills above Yarram.

Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place is a program run by the Department of Justice for adult indigenous men undertaking a community-based order. It is a live-in facility that aims to connect and strengthen indigenous men back to their culture. In the Gunai Kurni Language “Wulgunggo Ngalu” means “which way together”, a sentiment strongly held by all who lead this program. Our amazing guide for the day was the passionate Lionel Dukakis who, after warmly welcoming us to country, took us on a very informative tour of the facility explaining as we went the education, skills and lifestyle programs the facility run. The participants also have the opportunity of “giving back” to the local community and to take part in local community activities, like lawn mower racing!

After sitting down to lunch together, the students took part in a forum where they could openly discuss contemporary indigenous issues. Lionel encouraged students to ask the questions that they always wanted to ask, but were maybe a little too embarrassed to broach. An excited discussion followed, and it was hard not to be taken by Lionel’s contagious fervour for indigenous welfare. I think it was unanimous – an informative day was had by all and  at the end of the day 14 students left with a new found enthusiasm for indigenous health and welfare, and a greater understanding of indigenous culture.

Tracey Zakazakaarcher year 4C medical student has won 3 gold and 1 silver in the Australian Masters Championships 2013. This competition only runs every two years and involves athletes from 13 different countries in 50 different sports. Tracey was successful in the athletics competition taking first place in the pentathlon, shot-put and the hammer throw, as well as second place in the discus throw.

Tracey is a mother of eight children, is studying medicine, as well as coaching other children in both soccer and athletics.

Tracey was also chosen to represent the Masters Games competitors on the “Weekend Today Show”, Channel 9 national TV, as well as local radio stations in Geelong Victoria.

Tracey’s TV interview can be found online.

Tracey admits, “I enjoy my athletics – it keeps me fit, however, the most important thing right now is passing the exams!”

A fantastic day was had by all, we'd like to thank Liddiard Road for coming along with 40 lovely smiles and teddies.

One fine day, the year 3B medical students invited 40 prep students from Liddiard Road Primary School to come and visit the clinical school for a very special morning. Our aim was to introduce the kids to the concept of good health, good eating and emergencies.

Being kids ourselves (sort of), we wanted to make the day as fun as possible – so naturally, the kids were invited to bring their Teddies along to help. The kids learned about exercise, healthy eating, x-rays, what to do in an emergency, and got a real plaster cast on their thumb – very exciting stuff.

Peter Nightingale, Year 3B Student, GRCS

Left to right – At the Docklands Channel 9 Studios – Jeremy Siow, William Bay (contestant), Matthew Howard, Darius Tan and Shayne Camilleri

It was with great excitement that the Warragul site of GRCS learned that William Bay (3B student at Warragul) had been selected to appear on the quiz show ‘Millionaire Hot Seat’ with Eddie McGuire as compere.

William, ably supported by Matthew Howard (3B student), and with a delegation of 3B students in the audience, went down to Channel 9 studios at Docklands in mid- October to appear in his ‘million dollar’ session.

To see how William and the team did, keep an eye out for the show which is scheduled to show at 5:30pm weekdays on Chanel 9 in the next couple of weeks.   The experience at the studios is one that the students will not forget in a long time!

Anne Leversha recently volunteered to assist with a Clinical Pharmacy Workshop, which was held in the Pacific Region nation of Vanuatu. Anne is a Senior Lecturer with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, based in Traralgon.

Anne’s friend, Amanda Sanburg, is the Chief Pharmacist for Vanuatu, a position which is funded through the Australian Government Overseas Aid Program, AusAID.

Amanda organised a four-day workshop, which was supported by the World Health Organisation. The event was opened by the Acting Director of Health for Vanuatu and pharmacists from Vanuatu and another Pacific Region nation, Solomon Islands, attended.

The success of the event was partly due to its broad program in which lectures, case presentations by each participant and team building activities were included.

Anne’s direct contribution was presentations on analgesia and pain management, medication chart review and team building. In addition, she used  her broad knowledge of pharmacy and pharmacy education to comment on the other topics covered.

As you read this, Gippsland Year 3B student Brooke Driessen is in Africa, gaining a totally different perspective on medicine.

Brooke flew to Africa last weekend (Saturday 31 August) for nearly two weeks as part of the Specialists without Borders group, which offers the opportunity to experience the issues and conditions in other lands.

Before she left, Brooke said: “I haven’t been to Africa before so it’s a really good opportunity to have a taste of the country and to meet the people. I don’t have any real expectations, I’m just really glad I will get to be there.

“It will be fascinating to see what health care is like over there and see what it is like to work with the community as an outsider group. I’m sure the needs are very different; it will be interesting to see the impact of diseases and health issues that they have.”

Brooke expects to spend time in Malawi and Zimbabwe. The project involves working with and helping to train health professionals, so that there are more local medical professionals who are able to provide services.

The chance to take part came about thanks to her year at the Gippsland Regional Clinical School, where tutor and local surgeon David Birks works.  He has had a long involvement in the specialists without borders program and encourages students to grab the opportunity to be involved.

For Brooke, it is part of the benefit of spending Year 3B of her undergraduate program in Gippsland. “It has been really good this year, the group is great and it’s really nice being with the post graduate students (who come through the Gippsland Medical School). We all have a different perspective, which aids our learning, and here everyone gets to know you better so there are lots of opportunities.”

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 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.