Five university students learn about culture and regional practise during Carnarvon Medical Immersion Program

A medical immersion program in Carnarvon saw a number of university students take to the region to learn about culture and develop an understanding of work in remote WA. Five university students jetted off to the Gascoyne to participate in the Carnarvon Medical Student Immersion Program, run by Rural Health West, in the last week of September. Students visited local services, including Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, Carnarvon Medical Centre and the Gwoonwardu Mia Cultural Centre, where they developed hands-on clinical training experience and knowledge about culturally competent care, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Curtin University’s Aadhikar Sharma recently completed the program, which he said gave him invaluable insights into rural health care. “The program gave me a unique opportunity to experience the disparities in healthcare delivery in rural and remote areas,” he said. “The strong sense of community here makes patient care deeply personal compared to living in Perth. “It taught me the importance of cultural competence and flexibility in medical practice. I’d highly recommend this experience for anyone looking to broaden their perspective on health care.” Hayley Muller, from Curtin, said the program gave her hands-on experience and on-country medical training, while also learning about the town’s history and culture. “The trip deepened my understanding of rural health care, from talking with local nurses and farmers to seeing the challenges faced in small medical settings,” she said. “The experience highlighted the need for more medical staff in rural towns and the importance of addressing health inequalities.” Jacinta Truda, from University of Notre Dame, Fremantle visited the Gwoondardu Mia Cultural Centre, where she learnt more about Aboriginal history and the importance of culturally appropriate care. “This week was a great reminder of how my medical knowledge applies in practice,” she said. “My favourite experience was with Ray Edney, a local Yinggarda educator, who taught us about Dreamtime stories and the creation of the land. “It helped me better understand traditional medicine and how it can enhance doctor-patient relationships.”