New rural health club set to represent the North West at national health conference

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Fall 26-3-2008

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame, Broome Campus

Publication Place

Broome

Abstract

The North West region now has a rural health club to promote health and careers in the health industry thanks to the hard work and determination of three University of Notre Dame Australia nursing students.

The successful application comes less than a year after, then second year Broome Campus nursing students, Kristie Ballagh, Clare Kennedy and Jerry Moore were awarded scholarships by the National Rural Health Network (NRHN) to attend the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) Conference in Albury. Their experiences during the trip encouraged them to form a club of their own.

Founding member Jerry Moore said the club was confirmed by the Department of Health and Aging as the 24th Australian Rural Health Club in February after more than a year working on the project.

“It’s brilliant to be given the go-ahead and it’s such a great opportunity to be more involved in rural health at university student level,” said Mr Moore.

The club will promote health and careers in health by attending regional expos and events such as the annual Crocfest. They will also visit rural high schools throughout the year.

The founding members have plenty of work ahead of them including setting up the administration and confirming a name. Seven Notre Dame students will now travel to Tasmania on 3 April to attend the NRHN National Undergraduate Rural Health Conference.

“Everyone is very keen, just like we were last year. It really was amazing and was so well organised. I’m expecting everyone to come back full of enthusiasm,” he said.

Mr Moore said the conference provided an excellent forum for networking and he believed the North West club had a lot to offer the students who lived in the city, but were contemplating working in remote areas.

“It opens up life on the Broome Campus to a national audience. It lets others know we are here and what we are doing in nursing and in our training,” he said. “The university will have great exposure from a student point of view. We’re basically ambassadors for the Broome Campus.”

Media contact:

Mike Doyle 9192 0668 or Jerry Moore 0439 522 741

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