A partnership between Christies Beach High School and Flinders University Medical School’s Onkaparinga Clinical Education Program (OCEP) received recently a NAB Schools First Seeding grant of $15000 in recognition of the value of the partnership and to assist with the development of The Cube.
The school and its partners (SHine, Headspace, and the Australian Medical Association (SA Branch) Youth Friendly Doctor Program, and the clinical educators in the OCEP program) are establishing a space The Cube, for school students where medical students will offer counselling, mentoring and guidance. The school students will receive a much needed service in a safe and familiar setting and the 3rd Year GEMP medical students get a valuable teaching and learning role in adolescent health and wellbeing. Flinders University is actively engaged in building community relationships and the School of Medicine has a strong agenda of social accountability.
Eventually medical students at The Cube will offer an ‘intermediary service’ between the school students, allied health agencies and medical services. Flinders OCEP students will help to empower school students, act as advocates when needed and raise awareness among school students of the services that are available
The partners shared vision is for a student care and wellbeing service more comprehensive and accessible than existing ones where school students can access medical assistance from student medical professionals. The medical students will offer support, mentoring and advocacy in empowering school students to access other medical professionals and allied health services and foster near peer relationships.
Evidence suggests that school based medical education programs which include student led activities and peer leadership positively influence health and wellbeing. Medical students have worked with the school student groups and developed activities, presentations and workshops on topics identified by school students. The range of services to be offered include central, holistic health and wellbeing advice with school students accessing information, counselling, general medical advice, referrals and support.
The project team includes the OCEP Academic Coordinator, Dr Sarah Mahoney, Finance Officer Jacky Lowe, Community Engagement Project Officer, Linnea Boileau and from Christies Beach High School, Principal Sharon Goldman and the student counsellors Jane Hiatt and Chris Leech.
As well as the NAB Schools First Seeding grant, NAB’s Paul Stone, will provide business partner support to move the project forward.