Med-Toring inspires next generation of Mildura’s healthcare workforce
Twenty Mildura secondary students recently got a glimpse into their future, exploring healthcare careers through Monash Rural Health Mildura’s highly successful Med-Toring program.
Over three after-school sessions, Year 11 and 12 students from Mildura Senior College and St Joseph’s College explored a range of health careers and participated in hands-on activities, led by current Monash medical students (the Med-Tors).
Third-year medical End-to-End Rural Cohort student and Med-Tor, Samara Terpstra, who has a background in biomedical science, hoped to show students the different pathways to a healthcare career.
“I wanted to encourage rural students to discover the vast array of opportunities within healthcare including medicine, allied health and nursing while considering other career opportunities such as medical engineering and clinical research.”
Each Med-Toring session explored a range of topics, including preparing for university. Med-Tors also ran clinical skill activities, such as setting plaster casts and reviewing x-rays, in Monash Rural Health Mildura’s clinical simulation teaching spaces - the same facilities used by Monash medical students, as well as local doctors and nurses for their training.
“My favourite part has been interacting with students and sharing stories about healthcare and university life. I especially enjoyed the medical simulations. It was very rewarding to watch the students solve problems, collaborate and grow in confidence,” said Samara.
For Georgia Morris, a first-year medical student within the Mildura Primary Care Training Pathway, being a Med-Tor was the opportunity to be the mentor she wished she had in high school.
“As a first year medical student, there is still so much for me to learn and being able to engage in this program taught me so many things as well. I loved seeing the excitement and passion the students have and also it was really a moment I could step back and reflect on how far I have come since high school myself.”
Projects Coordinator Louise Hodgetts said that Med-Toring has become an in-demand program over the last 9 years and a significant number of participants have gone onto study medicine, nursing or other health degrees.
“The feedback we get from participating students is that Med-Toring really opens their eyes to the diverse careers on offer in healthcare, as well as helps prepare them for future study. We’ve had a few students who have taken part in the program and then a few years later, are studying medicine back in Mildura and are Med-Tors themselves. It’s wonderful to see the program go full-circle.”
For more information about Med-Toring or secondary school engagement opportunities in Mildura, please contact:
Louise Hodgetts
Projects Coordinator
E: louise.hodgetts@monash.edu
