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In this issue - our Lismore students in the ABC news, Western graduate Mitchell shares his south coast experience, new features in the RuralUP Tracker and how to make the most of video meetings.
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One of the highlights of the Rural Undergraduate Pathway has been our Farm Safety Day run at Dr Ross Wilson's sheep stud in Bathurst. We were unable to run this interdisciplinary scenario-based learning experience as planned earlier this year, but we don't want to forego it completely!
We are in conversation with our friends in the Digital Content team at the university about creating an alternative experience, until we can bring students out 'rural' again, so watch this space!
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This is the team that developed four fabulous videos about medicine at Western Sydney University last year. Make sure you take a look if you haven't seen them yet!
They're on the RuralUP YouTube Channel.
- Wendy, Rural Student Support Officer |
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Our students on placement at the Lismore Rural Clinical School are featured in an ABC story about Western Sydney University fast-tracking its medical exams for students who wish to start working in hospitals before they officially graduate. Read Full Article ...
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SURF, SPECIALIST SKILLS AND SUNDAY BRUNCHES ON THE SOUTH COAST
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Mitchell Purser is a Western graduate who did a year-long placement in Bathurst in 2014/2015. Mitchell did his internship and residency at Liverpool hospital before moving to the NSW south coast for GP training.
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He completed his GP training earlier this year and is now a GP in the regional town of Nowra.
“I live in Gerringong which is a small coastal town of about 4,000 people, about 30 minutes from Nowra,” Mitchell said.
“Outside of work, I have really taken to surfing, but I also enjoy playing guitar, swimming and running. There is also golf, mountain biking, bushwalking, skating, kayaking - the options are almost endless,” he said.
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Mitchell really loves his food and hasn't missed out in Gerringong.
“I love a good coffee, Sunday brunch and the odd bit of fine dining. The local cafes and restaurants are absolutely amazing and rival anything on offer in Sydney” he said.
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A sense of community is something Mitchell refers to regularly. “I have only been in the town for a little over 18 months but already it's hard to visit the shops without recognising someone. That sense of community connection is hard to find outside of rural communities.”
Mitchell recently joined the local Surf Life Saving Club, “Surf life saving is a really vital service for the community, and also a great way to meet people and keep fit.”
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Mitchell Purser (Front row, 3rd from left)
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There are professional benefits too. Mitchell explains, “Working as a GP in a rural town offers you the ability to practice as a true generalist, but also develop special skills. Some of my colleagues have upskilled to provide specialist palliative care, others run dedicated skin or paediatric clinics.”
He recommends students consider a rural placement during their studies.
“Trialing a rural placement is a great opportunity to experience living and working in rural areas. My time in Bathurst definitely opened my eyes to work in a regional area as a viable option, both professionally and personally. Plus, you can afford to buy a house!”
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Pathway students will notice that the Tracker now separates the face-to-face activities and online activities and tallies the total points (pictured right).
The First Year students who joined RuralUP recently to fulfill the requirements of "Medicine in Context" (since they are unable to participate face-to-face) have been working hard. There are many First Year students who have collected the required 15 points. Great job - but you don't have to stop there!
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Interested First Year students are encouraged to continue to collect points which will go towards an end-of-year RuralUP Certificate. Details are in the FAQs of the RuralUP Tracker.
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MAKING THE MOST OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS
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Video meetings add another layer of complexity to the usual challenge of running effective meetings between staff, students and others. Here are 8 considerations that relate specifically to video meetings.
1. Check your technology in advance
Make sure it works, you know how to operate it and there no updates that need to be installed before you can start using it.
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2. Open the meeting early
This allows for some chat, as would happen if you meet face-to-face.
3. Be on time
It is equally distracting to have people arrive late to a virtual meeting as a face-to-face meeting.
4. Avoid the temptation to multi-task
To make the most of the time available, be focussed, i.e. you probably shouldn't be doing this >
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5. Consider whether to use mute or not
In large meetings, using mute when not speaking can decrease distractions significantly.
However for meetings with few participants, leaving everyone unmuted may encourage greater participation.
6. Consider whether to use video or not
Seeing the other participants can add significantly to feeling engaged in a meeting. It also enables people to observe body language and other non-verbal communication.
Using video may also increase the level of involvement, since other participants can see if a person is off-task!
If the internet connection is poor, turning off video and using audio only may improve the experience.
7. Keep meetings to under an hour
Most meetings are organised to start on the hour. Limiting meetings to forty five minutes allows participants a break between back-to-back meetings.
8. Consider recording the meeting
This may allow you to concentrate on what's happening at the time, and make notes later.
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RURAL UNDERGRADUATE PATHWAY
[RuralUP]
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In short, the Rural Undergraduate Pathway (RuralUP) is designed to allow students in the School of Medicine to explore opportunities in rural areas as an undergraduate. Through RuralUP, students gain an understanding of what it is like to work in rural areas and develop their peer and professional networks. If you would like to know more, see the RuralUP Flyer.
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