Monash medical students contribute over 3000 hours of community service in Gippsland
First year Monash medical students have engaged with community organisations and groups across the Latrobe Valley, with the return of the valuable community-based practice program for the first time since 2019.
The program, coordinated by Monash Rural Health Churchill Deputy Director, Associate Professor Margaret Simmons, provides first-year graduate entry medical students the opportunity to learn how community care and services are provided for people experiencing disadvantage in Gippsland.
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The idea behind this program is for our students to better understand important issues of social justice and equity, and to explore the factors that contribute to the perpetuation of disadvantage within our local communities”, explained Associate Professor Simmons.
After being paused since 2019 due to COVID-19, the popular program returned this year. Students were placed within a wide range of Gippsland community organisations and services, including Morwell Neighbourhood House & Learning Centre, Churchill Neighbourhood Centre, Kurnai College and the Latrobe Health Assembly, and completed four full days of placement over a semester - totalling a combined 3424 hours of community service across Gippsland.
Students contributed to organisations in various ways - from creating online checklists and pamphlets, a recycling program, providing school students health and wellbeing tutoring, packing food boxes, and participating in many of the various activities undertaken at the organisations.
“In return, the program helps the students with communication skills and learning about the social determinants of health in situ - and they have fun!” adds Associate Professor Simmons.
Medical student William Lewis spent time with the Latrobe Valley Flexible Learning Option Program at Kurnai College. A highlight of the placement was being part of their health week, where community agencies, such as the Latrobe Health Assembly and the Ladder Project Foundation presented to the students about the services available to them, and included a colour run. 
“For me, it was an amazing experience seeing the students engage with these services and highlighted the importance of these services in addressing these social determinants of health."
Churchill Neighbourhood Centre manager, Nathan Brown, enjoyed welcoming seven medical students throughout semester 2, who supported a number of the centre’s programs, including wellbeing classes, the Men’s Shed, the community garden and the fit-out of the new food bank.
According to Mr Brown, the students participated in a real grassroots community program with a very diverse client base.
“We aren’t one of the big players in Morwell, like St Vincent de Paul. I like to think they are the tiles, and we are the grout, providing help and assistance to local families and people on a very one one-on-one basis,” he said.
“We get wealthy people who move here to retire and perhaps have lost their savings. They have a great house and car, but can’t put food on the table. We have young, old, everyone and it’s a great learning for the students because they truly learn what is going on in the community, and what it needs.”
Over 20 local organisations hosted students this year and the support of the Gippsland community was key to the successful return and lasting impact of the program on the students participating.
“The work that is done in our local organisations is inspirational; understanding it and empathising with clients stands our students in good stead on their ongoing pathway to becoming effective healthcare professionals. We are so grateful to our community partners for coming on board and being part of this program,” adds Associate Professor Simmons.
Organisations in Gippsland interested in hosting students in 2024 can contact Monash Rural Health Churchill to learn more about the program.