Title

Northern Territory rural health visit to benefit Kimberley Health Club

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Fall 21-5-2008

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame, Broome Campus

Publication Place

Broome

Abstract

A week in the Northern Territory promoting health and careers in the industry has given third year nursing student Jerry Moore valuable experience for promoting health in the Kimberley region.

University students from across Australia applied for the opportunity to attend the ‘Central’ General Practice and Primary Health Care, Northern Territory Rural High School Visit and Jerry was among the successful applicants.

The group also included four university students from Darwin, Victoria and Adelaide covering the professions of pharmacy, paramedics and medicine. During the week the group, visited eight separate classes from seven schools from Tennant Creek to Alice Springs. They also visited the Anyinginyi Aboriginal Health Clinic in Tennant Creek.

The team conducted group workshops to show some of the skills and equipment used in each profession. Activities included, hand washing with glow in the dark cream, blood pressure pulse and heart sounds, finger plastering, reflex testing with tendon hammers and lung capacity testing.

“We also asked the kids to match the student to the future professions in an effort to break down stereotypes as the group included future female doctors and myself as a future male nurse,” said Jerry.

Meeting school students from remote locations and encouraging them to consider health careers was a highlight of his trip. “Seeing the‘spark’ in the kids eyes when they first hear their heart sounds with a stethoscope was really rewarding,” he said.

Jerry said working as part of such a dynamic team and sharing life experiences with them and the kids had helped him grow professionally. “Being challenged by the kids to examine my life and life choices allowed me the chance to reflect on my own beliefs,” he said.

Jerry believes his experiences in the Northern Territory will benefit the Kimberley Regional Alliance for Students in Health (KRASH) – the rural health club established by Jerry and two other Broome Campus nursing students - as they begin similar tours throughout the Kimberley.

Media contact

Mike Doyle 9192 0668

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