The Flinders NT Medical Program (NTMP) Remote Health Experience (RHE) held at Charles Darwin University Rural Campus in Katherine is an inter-professional, experiential activity where all participants learn about remote health issues in context.

This year, with the 10th Anniversary of the Flinders Rural Clinical School (RCS) in Katherine and the 50th Anniversary of Finders University, the learning has been even more collegial and fun for all participants.

The training has been designed by a collaborative group from NTMP, Charles Darwin University (Nursing & Pharmacy), Batchelor Institute, Flinders NT Katherine, Flinders University in Adelaide, Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Services and St John’s Ambulance.

Inter-professional practice involves clarifying and acknowledging roles and capabilities of all team members. Scenarios using simulated case studies from real life situations are used to demonstrate the challenges of Aboriginal health issues in a resource-poor environment.

The three day program includes generic sessions on rural and remote practice, team building exercises and mixed disciplinary activities in simulated clinical stations. This model develops decision-making skills and encourages learning in a safe environment. Remote practitioners and educators provide training and feedback on individual performance. The last day includes a collaborative contextualised activity with local Indigenous artists, who discuss traditional painting and local symbols assisting students to represent their remote health experience in a symbolic way.

This year Charles Darwin University Chancellor, Sally Thomas, AM and her partner participated in the Saturday activities, and members of the Students Association for Rural and Remote Health provided assistance in leading the activities including a popular photo competition on Facebook.

RHE was again a great success and students had this to say about their experience…

“ …this year RHE has been very good with a lot of interdisciplinary teaching and learning and fun; it was good too for the student bonding and understanding what the others’ do in health.”

“ …the painting was awesome and we need to do more of this during the course!’

“….the role playing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner students was deadly! What a great idea! Well done guys…”

The Remote Health Experience is an annual program open to all NTMP students.

Watch a video about Remote Health Experience

Enquiries:
Associate Professor Pascale Dettwiller
Program coordinator FNT Katherine RCS
pascale.dettwiller@flinders.edu.au