Budding clinicians gain innovative experience

THE Bendigo Tech School at La Trobe University’s Flora Hill campus became a virtual medical precinct last week as a cohort of local high school students participated in the first ever Medical Clinician Immersion Day.

Run in partnership with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Goldfields Local Learning and Employment Network, the free event was designed to give students an authentic, hands-on experience of clinical life.

Activities included taking blood pressure, testing reflexes, trying out ultrasound and eye/ear exam tools, and practicing using slings and splints and applying plaster casts.

ACRRM clinicians Dr Chris Pring, Dr Stefanie Hammond and Dr Erin Hawkey also hosted a question and answer panel at the conclusion of the day, and spoke firsthand about what it’s like to work in medicine in regional Australia.

“Early exposure to the medical field can be pivotal in shaping a student’s career path,” Dr Pring, ACRRM’s regional director of training said.

“Events like this help demystify the profession and highlight the diverse opportunities available, especially in rural, remote and First Nations healthcare.”

Bendigo Tech School head of programs Ember Chittenden said the immersion day was about giving students a taste of what a career in medicine is like.

“By engaging directly with clinicians and participating in hands-on workshops, students can make informed decisions about a possible career in medicine,” she said.

Opened in 2018, the Bendigo Tech School is a science, techology, engineering and maths learning hub for secondary students, welcoming between 8500 and 10,500 visitors per year.