PENINSULA ONLINE

Issue 7
Monday, 15 May 2006 

$177k to diversify clinical teaching

The Centre for Ambulance and Paramedic Studies already use simulated environments for clinical teaching, including the recently launched trauma simulation complex.

The State Government has allocated $8.4m over four years to help health services meet forecast growth in undergraduate clinical placements with the aim of improving workforce supply and ensuring a sustainable health system.

According to Ambulance and Paramedic Studies lecturer Brett Williams, the proposal aims to contribute to an increased clinical training capacity by the creation of a ‘virtual patient environment' (VPE).

"The VPE has the capacity to produce teaching and learning resources that actually increase students' clinical learning without the need for actual patient contact," he explained.

The new addition to clinical training will not completely replace clinical placements, but will reduce the time required for actual patient contact and will have students better prepared to maximise their learning from that contact.

The proposal has the potential to reduce student-patient contact and overall clinical placement time thereby reducing the burden and competition for placement positions between disciplines while creating a more organised coordination of clinical placements.

The utilisation of IT applications has the capacity to create a ‘new’ model of workforce that will provide not only continued education and training capacities, but also the ability for a flexible mode of training providing large-scale opportunities to health care students.

Monash Peninsula as part of the Frankston Learning City

The Peninsula Campus last week hosted the launch of the Frankston City Council's 'Learning Cities' strategy which aims at encouraging a philosophy of Life Long Learning for Frankston City residents.

Delivering  the keynote address at the launch, Professor Sue Willis, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Monash, congratulated the Frankston City Council for taking the initiative to "facilitate, promote and advocate the realm of education and life long learning".

"There is good evidence that on average those with higher levels of education, literacy and workplace training tend to earn more and are employed at higher rates and for a longer period of their life," Professor Willis said.

"The broader social outcomes of education include effects on health, on families, on civic participation and social cohesion, and the associated values developed such as attitudes towards environmental issues."

Virginia Simmons, Chisholm TAFE Director and CEO, Professor Willis and Steve Gawler, Frankston City Council CEO watch on as Peninsula Campus Academic Director Professor Phillip Steele indicates his support for the strategy by signing the charter.

"We now understand that education makes good economic and social sense. And of course this is the reason behind Frankston City Council's interest in promoting and facilitating learning and education."

As the dean of a faculty responsible for educating educators, Professor Willis said there had been a distinct trend change in they types of 'students' coming into the faculty compared to 10 years ago.

"It is interesting to see that the enrolments in one particular class in the faculty includes doctors, engineers, volunteer service people, museum administrators, system analysts, police and armed service men and women," she said. "People realise that they need to continue to learn."

Professor Willis encouraged the 80 plus attendees to support learning at every level. "It is never too early or too late to learn and there is nobody on whom the effort is wasted. It is, simply speaking, an investment in joy and in hope."

The Learning Cities Strategy aims to 'Strengthen the health, well-being and prosperity of all communities by promoting greater Frankston as a Learning City and the benefits that can be derived by valuing lifelong learning and education'.

The Peninsula campus has been a key stakeholder in the development of the strategy together with other education providers including Chisholm TAFE, the local Learning and Employment Network and primary and secondary schools. The full strategy is available to download.

 Student rights made easy

Professor Steele, Krystal Barr and Joy Ronay from MONYX Student Rights, Natalie Pestana, MONYX Publications Officer and Campus Life Site Manager Peter Hughes at the launch

MONSU recently launched 'Steady Course: Your 2006 student rights guide' with the aim of providing all students with a in-depth resource to support their studies at Monash.

The guide provides information about fees, fines and finances, exams, exclusions and grievances while giving tips for success at uni.

It is hoped that the guide will help students understand university processes while giving them a simply referral point for questions and queries before they become too serious.

The guide was launched by Peninsula campus Academic Director Professor Phillip Steele. Staff who would like a copy of the guide should contact Krystal Barr on extn 44217.

John White Celebration of Life

A function to celebrate the life of the late Mr John White, Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor on Sport and former Campus Director - Caulfield and Peninsula campuses will be held on Thursday, 25 May.

When: Thursday, 25 May from 4 pm to 5.30 pm
Where: K Foyer - Building K, Level 2, Caulfield campus

All are welcome.  Please join us to celebrate the life of our colleague and friend who sadly passed away on Friday, 7 April 2006.  Light refreshments will be provided.

Please take the time to RSVP to Christel Kent on extn 31000 by Monday, 22 May 2006.

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea

All Peninsula campus staff are encouraged to take part in Australia's Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday, 25 May to raise money for the Cancer Council.

The morning tea will be held in the cafe from 10 am and staff and students can get a cuppa and cake for a gold coin donation. For further information, contact Alicia Bennett.

Electric car joins campus fleet

The Peninsula campus car pool now has an environmentally friendly hybrid electric car as part of the fleet.

The Toyota Prius hybrid car combines a petrol engine and an electric motor, which allows for improved efficiency and minimised emissions. Depending on driving conditions the car can get up to 1000km per tank of fuel and as the battery is charged by the petrol engine as needed it does not need charging from an outside source. The car is available as part of the fleet. Bookings can be made on extn 44312.

Farewell to Keith Allen

After 24 years of service at Monash University Keith Allen from Monash Print Services is retiring.

A farewell for Keith will be held on 26 May at 4 pm at the Monash University Club - Clayton. For catering purposes if you would like to attend could you please advise Stacie Garnham by 19 May.

All are most welcome to attend, so please pass this message through to friends and colleagues who you think would like to attend.