As part of the School of Rural Health 20^th Anniversary celebrations, a $10,000 scholarship was made available to the honours degree of Bachelor of Medical Science students (BMedSc (Hons)). We are very pleased to announce that the winner of the scholarship is Kyla Garft.

Kyla is studying the BMedSci (Hons) program through the School of Rural Health. She is based at the Bendigo Eye Clinic under the clinical supervision of Mr. Peter Burt, consultant Ophthalmologist and Dr Pam Snow from the Bendigo Regional Clinical School, who is the academic supervisor.

The title of Kyla’s study is ‘Effectiveness of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients’. Kyla is from rural NSW and completed Years 3 and 4 of the MBBS course in the NVRMEN program before successfully applying for a BMedSc (Hons) year. Kyla is the fourth NVRMEN student to undertake a BMedSc (Hons) at the Bendigo Eye Clinic. The first such student, Dr Michael Jamieson is now in the ophthalmology training program and is working at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne.

Matthew Campbell's family, Noel Campbell (third from left) and Christine Campbell (third from right) are pictured with (from left) Alba Anderson, Kyle Vander Kuyp, John May, Liz Wearne and Sam Alexander

Every year Monash University’s rural health club, WILDFIRE, holds a lecture dedicated to Indigenous health.

The first organised in 1994 by Matthew Campbell, then a second year Monash medical student and was attended by hundreds of medical and allied health students from Monash and other universities.

Tragically, just after the event, Matthew was killed in a car accident.  Each year, WILDFIRE holds the lecture in memory of Matthew and his passion for Indigenous health.

The seminar provides medical and allied health students at Monash University with an opportunity to hear about possible solutions to difficulties faced by Indigenous Australians that affect their mental and physical wellbeing.

This year’s 19^th Annual Matthew Campbell Memorial Evening was opened by Professor Geoff Solarsh, Director of the NVRMEN program. Guests participated in a Welcome to Country given by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Bill Nicholson followed by a traditional smoking ceremony before enjoying the One Fire Tribal Dancers and Didgeridoo.

Speakers this year included:

• Sam Alexander, a Monash graduate entry student who intermitted his studies in 2012 to ride more than 5000 km on horseback from Victoria to far north Queensland to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.  Read about Sam’s adventures on his website.
• Dr Elizabeth Wearne, a Monash graduate who is now a GP in East Gippsland.
• Alba Anderson, a Monash John Flynn Scholar undertaking her John Flynn Placement Program in the Northern Territory and working in remote Indigenous communities.
• Kyle Vander Kuyp, an Indigenous Australian and Olympic athlete who competed in the 1996 and 2000 games and broke the 110 metre hurdles Australian record in the 1995 World Championships.  Kyle has since been involved with AIME Indigenous mentoring.  Kyle is from the Worimi and Yuin tribe of North and South Coast NSW.

John May, Year 3 Monash student and active WILDFIRE member did a great job as MC on the night and was congratulated on his great effort in organising the event.

It was great to see the Campbell family enjoying this annual event which commemorates the work of their son Matthew and what he believed in most – to extend other students’ knowledge and experiences with Aboriginal health.

By Laura Major

Manager, Rural Education Program

Staff and students are being encouraged to take part in Monash University’s Diversity and Inclusion Week, with activities planned from Monday 15 to Friday 19 April.

Details about all the activities can be found on the Diversity website.

One of the events being hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences Social Inclusion committee is ASPIRE: Achieving success as a woman.

Dr Sally Cockburn, otherwise known as Dr Feelgood, is the MC on Thursday 18 April, commencing with refreshments at 4.30pm at the Clayton campus.

Further details and booking form can be accessed on My Monash.

Anyone who wants to take part should make their inquiry soon.

If you want to comment on Monash University’s Reconciliation Action Plan (pdf, 156kb) do it quickly. Consultations end Wednesday 6 March at 5.00 pm.

Once adopted, the plan will formalise the University’s commitment to reconciliation and outlines key activities and actions to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Advancing Indigenous education and career outcomes is an institutional priority for Monash and the plan will contribute to this, and work toward to a more diverse learning and working environment.

The plan is a document to be ‘owned’ by all colleagues. Strategies and actions within the document are not solely the responsibility of one central unit, but of all staff at Monash.

Email us your questions, comments and suggestions to Monash.Futures@monash.edu.au by 5 pm Wednesday 6 March.

Students get hands-on experience during transition week

The School of Rural Health has again played an important role in the MBBS Year 1 Transition Program for 2013.

It was held at Monash University, Clayton Campus last Friday and Saturday (1 and 2 March) and the School of Rural Health introduced the Monash Rural Health program to the Year 1 students during the last day of their Orientation Week.

Representatives from Mildura, Bendigo, Gippsland and East Gippsland ensured that Year 1 students were given an opportunity to learn about what awaits them across the next five years within the SRH.

Professor Judi Walker gave a presentation entitled ‘Monash Rural Health: Setting the Scene’ which highlighted rural clinical placements across the MBBS curriculum for direct entry and graduate entry students, as well as raising students’ awareness of rural generalist pathways. (more…)

Anyone out there who can help run an in-service session on camera use and photography?

Organisers are looking for someone to instruct School of Rural Health staff on the use of cameras, to increase confidence and the quality of documentation of events.

The instruction would be on basic use of the camera to best effect. If there is anyone interested and available, please contact Cathy Wheel on 5440 9061.

In an article published by Charles Sturt University January 23, medical consultant Emeritus Professor John Dwyer made the claim that rural clinical schools in Australia have failed to increase the number of medical graduates moving to work in rural areas.

The real issue, perhaps overlooked by Professor Dwyer, is a shortage of rural postgraduate training places to accommodate the growing numbers of medical graduates exposed to rural practice.

Medical graduates report their frustrations that, while they are receiving excellent undergraduate rural clinical training, there are limited opportunities to find a rural postgraduate training pathway. (more…)

The School of Rural Health Research Committee has updated the guidelines for the Conference Support Fund, so as to allow applications to be received throughout the year.

A summary of the support available as well as full guidelines and application form can be found on the school’s intranet.

Please email Cathy Ward if you have any questions.

Gippsland Medical School staff took time out for a celebratory lunch with the students after their final PBL session and Ann Dettrick kindly invited GMS staff to lunch at her place in the beautiful Jeeralangs.

AND THEN……the OSCEs!

Monday 19^th, Tuesday 20^th and Thursday 22^nd saw staff from EGRCS, GRCS, MUDRIH and GMS combine to run the Year 4C and Year A OSCEs at the GMS.  It was a massive job well done – not only on the actual days but in the lead up with contacting examiners and simulated patients and setting up the stations.

The opportunity to access funding from the School of Rural Health Conference Fund is now open and it is suggested all those interested have a look at the guidelines and application forms. Good use was made of the fund in 2012, with a number of staff enjoying the learning and travel opportunities presented.

A few examples of the funding provided included Melinda Goodyear from MUDRIH presenting papers at the Child and Youth Mental Health Matters conference in Canada, while Pam Snow from Bendigo completed a National Communications Skills Training course in the United Kingdom.

As part of the University’s Professionalising Research Management Plan, Lisa Lavey and Michelle Moon attended the Australasian Research Management Society’s annual conference in Queensland.

Margaret Stebbing from MUDRIH facilitated workshops at the 2012 Mount Isa Remote Health conference.

The funding is provided in conjunction with units within the School, and supports staff members attending national and international conferences.

Guidelines and application forms for the Conference Fund can be found on the School of Rural Health Intranet.