A group of first year La Trobe University Bendigo nursing students are currently visiting Castlemaine and surrounds as part of the university’s ‘Healthy Towns’ project.
Project coordinator Brad Hodge said Healthy Towns was a community-driven rural health initiative designed to support under-served rural communities while giving university students the chance to develop real-world skills.
“Through outreach programs and pop-up health clinics, placement nursing students work alongside local partners to offer much-needed services, lend a hand where gaps exist, and experience first-hand what rural health practice can look like,” he said.
“It’s a chance to make a difference and to learn by doing, bringing fresh energy to communities that need it, while building the future rural health workforce.”
The group has visited Kyabram a number of times and this is their first visit to Castlemaine.
The students are working in three groups of eight managing a pop-up clinic located at the Ray Bradfield Room over a three-week period from December 1-19. The pop-up is open from 9.30am-4pm Mon-Fri.
They enjoyed the chance to chat to and test volunteer participants at a pop-up at the recent International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) event at Victory Park, and are also visiting a range of other local venues including Don KR Castlemaine, the weekly Castlemaine Farmers Market, The Mill Castlemaine, Castlemaine Library, Maldon Neighbourhood Centre, Harcourt General Store and Dhelkaya Health.
The students are conducting basic health checks taking participants’ blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, blood glucose etc. All consultations are free and participants take part anonymously.
The program provides community members with some valuable insights into their overall health and wellbeing and gives students valuable hands-on experience working with a range of patients experiencing a vast array of health conditions.
Students are supervised by an experienced staff member who can offer advice if further testing is needed.
Be sure to call into the Ray Bradfield Rooms and say hello and perhaps take part in a free health check next time you are passing through town.
