Newly graduated doctors joining the NT Health workforce as interns participated in a program to help them transition from a student into a clinical setting.

The Students to Internship workshop was run by the Flinders NT Regional Training Hub (RTH) with former NT Medical Program (NTMP) students returning to help run the sessions.

The RTH team develops medical specialist and rural generalist training capacity through collaboration with local and national stakeholders, with the aim to address medical workforce needs in the Northern Territory.

The NTMP graduates undertook the one-day program before they head off to hospitals across the Territory.

The students undertook sessions in written communication and note taking, emergency department and ward scenarios and wellbeing and stress.

Previous graduates including Felix Ho, Jean Pepperill and Claire-Maree O’Bryan in collaboration with NT junior doctors Afif Mazid, Charlotte O’Callaghan and Tarun Ponneri, ran the sessions  and generously shared their personal experiences of their transition from student to intern.

The workshop fosters bonding with future colleagues as well as promoting a healthy culture of wellbeing, and dealing with stress and looking after oneself. The program also promoted the principles of mentoring and of seeking support in the workplace.

The workshop ended with a celebratory social function held at the Beachfront Hotel with graduands and NT Health junior doctors.