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Why You Should Do a Placement in Far-West NSW!
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Why You Should Do a Placement in Far-West NSW!

Summary:

From stunning Outback adventures and tight-knit healthcare teams to hands-on learning, Amica shares how being involved in a rural placement can be the most rewarding experience of your degree.

Written by Amica Cuell

Coming from a small country town of just 1200 people, I’ve always been passionate about healthcare work in a rural setting. That’s why choosing to study Medical Radiation Science at a regional uni such as Charles Sturt was a no-brainer. As a third-year student and loving my degree, I’ve just completed a six-week placement at the Broken Hill Base Hospital and want to share why I think everyone should do a placement in far-west NSW.

Adventure in the Outback!

Endless plains, gorgeous sunsets and tons of wildlife, the landscape is nothing short of breathtaking. Whether you decide to go camping in a swag under the stars for a weekend or on a short hike after work to see the sun go down, there are tons of ways to experience the sights around your work hours. Even the drive out west boasts great views of the red dirt and horizon, just be wary not to hit any emus or goats on your way (they are everywhere!)

Give Back to Rural Communities

When working in the far-west region, you gain a first-hand experience on the struggles that come with rural healthcare. Hospitals such as Broken Hill are often the only base for a wide population, often leading to a diverse range of cases from things as simple as small non-threatening cases to serious trauma scenarios. There are also opportunities to work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service! You get to make a real difference in these communities, treating both the general rural population as well as a high percentage of Indigenous Australians. Both of these groups suffer from significantly lower health outcomes than other Australians, often due to a lack of access to health services. By increasing the number of students who attend rural placements, hopefully, this will help contribute to the improvement of understaffing and facilities in rural communities.

Experience Working in a Close-Knit Team

Imagine feeling like an integral part of your healthcare team, knowing Doctors and Nurses in other departments on a first-name basis, and forming relationships with patients you consider ‘regulars’. This is what working in the far west is like! Another incredible benefit is that often you will be the only student working in your department. Unlike metropolitan placements that usually take on multiple students at once, you often get to work one-on-one, which allows you to make the absolute most of your placement. This means no racing other students to an x-ray when you need to complete an REA/competency (med rad’s will understand me here!).

Subsidised Accommodation

One thing a lot of students are unaware of? Almost all rural placement areas will have some kind of subsidised accommodation run through various university departments, encouraging students to work in these areas.

My accommodation in Broken Hill was subsidised (to just $25 per week) by the Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health which covers accommodation sites across far-west NSW, including: Broken Hill, Wilcannia, Menindee, Balranald, Dareton, Wentworth, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Lightning Ridge and Walgett.

There are also other opportunities for subsidised accommodation in other areas of rural NSW, including: Tamworth, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Inverell, Moree, Port Macquarie and Taree.

Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.

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