Bendigo

Core rotations

  • Aged Care

    Bendigo Health Aged Care Service encompasses the geriatric evaluation management (GEM) wards, the geriatric evaluation management on acute ward (GEM on acute), and orthopaedic geriatrics ward, along with outpatient rehabilitation and specialty outpatient clinics at Bendigo Health. Students will have specific appropriate responsibilities preparing them for independent practice as interns. Under supervision, they will admit new geriatric patients to the ward with full history, clinical examination, and assessment of medical comorbidities, functional levels, and cognition. Procedural works include cannulation, venepuncture, catheterisation, etc. Students will attend ward rounds, attend clinics, participate in team activities, and work with multidisciplinary allied health team members.

  • Emergency medicine

    Students will be rostered onto various ED shifts, and be expected to work in a team under supervision. Students will see appropriate patients presenting to ED, taking a full history, clinical examination, and assessment of presenting complaints. They will present to supervising consultants or senior registrars while formulating appropriate management plans. Students will learn and appreciate the importance of appropriate investigations in the acute care setting. Students will also develop communication skills in referring patients to various inpatient teams and providing clinical handovers. Procedural skills include cannulation, venepuncture, catheterisation, plaster, wound management, etc. These are in line with the Monash University acute care logbook. Bendigo Health ED runs a specific compulsory orientation for all students before commencing their first shift.

  • Medicine

    The Bendigo Health Medicine Service includes four general medicine ward teams and an Admitting Medical Unit (AMU). The department comprises specialist physicians of various specialties, including general physicians, gastroenterologists/hepatologists, nephrologists, respiratory/sleep physicians, endocrinologists, neurologists, infectious diseases physicians, and geriatricians. Students participate in daily morning ward rounds and assist the team members within their capacity as advised by the consultant or registrar. Students will then attend various outpatient clinics. They are encouraged to attend endoscopy and bronchoscopy lists for experience.

  • Surgery

    Bendigo Health Surgical Service comprises four surgical units and the acute general surgical unit (AGSU). Surgical expertise includes general surgery, upper GI, colorectal, breast and endocrine, thoracic, vascular, and plastic surgery. Students will review gowning and gloving skills and complete the interventional suite (theatre) before commencing surgical rotation. Students will attend and participate in unit activities including ward rounds and theatre sessions. There are pre-organised general surgery tutorials, unit meetings, and multidisciplinary team meetings that students will attend for learning and experience.

  • Scholarly Intensive Placement (SIP)

    Bendigo has a growing group of clinical supervisors across the Bendigo Health service, Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit and community services who are expanding the number of MED5101 / SIP options available in 2024-25.  Options exist in research, quality improvement, professional practice and education SIPs, with possible rotations in emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, First Nations’ health, neurology and stroke, gender health, Monash medical technology (AI), oncology, ophthalmology, anaesthesia, general practice, intensive care medicine, geriatrics, renal medicine, Monash Rural Health GP research, clinical education and simulation, public health, mental health, paediatrics, cultural safety, migrant health, quality improvement, medical administration, general surgery, respiratory medicine, plastic surgery, urology, amongst others. Some tailoring of student preferences can occur pending supervisor availability and capacity. Supervision is provided, where possible, in teams to allow more exposure and student support.

Speciality rotations

  • Anaesthetics

    Rotation to anaesthetics provides insight and experience in the critical care rotation. It aids students with an understanding of perioperative assessment and management, including intraoperative emergencies. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the acute pain service round, which provides insight into acute pain management. Procedural works include cannulation, venepuncture, blood gases, catheterisation, etc. Successful completion of the Interventional Suite (theatre) orientation is paramount before commencing rotation.

  • Clinical Education and Clinical Simulation Teaching

    A rotation to explore the clinical field of Clinical Education and Simulation. Based at the Bendigo Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre (CSSC) adjacent to Bendigo Health, is the site for Year 2 to Year 5D student clinical skills teaching, from basic skills through to advanced team-based clinical simulation in MED5103. Students have an opportunity to be exposed to clinical teaching with experts trained in clinical simulation and education. Students are involved in teaching junior year levels practical clinical skills in a supported simulated learning environment, learning ‘teaching on the run’ skills, giving and receiving feedback and ‘near-peer’ teaching skills whilst exploring modern, supervised, evidence-based clinical education practice.

  • Intensive Care

    Bendigo Health Intensive Care Unit is a regional metropolitan intensive care unit, looking after approximately 1500 referrals and 900 ICU patients per year from across the Loddon Mallee region of Northwest Victoria. As a 24/7 unit, staffed by Consultants, Registrars and HMOs with specialty training qualifications in critical care, it provides service to paediatric and adult critically unwell patients from admission through to recovery, inter-hospital transfer or end-of-life care and organ donation. Exposure to deteriorating patients, the Medical Emergency Team (MET), and the Code Blue resuscitation teams, along with ICU patients being cared for by an inter-professional team of nurses, doctors and allied health members, is an excellent introduction into critical care processes across the hospital and region. Students are well-supported in the ICU ward and ICU outreach shifts and have a structured 6-week ICU-specific teaching program.

  • Oncology and Cancer Care

    Bendigo Health Cancer Centre offers medical oncology, radiation oncology, haematology, specialist nurses, allied health services, and clinical trials. The service strives to deliver consistent, safe, high-quality and evidence-based care for people with cancer. Students are anticipated to spend the morning engaged in ward rounds, providing a comprehensive and immersive experience in the daily activities of the oncology department. The afternoon will be dedicated to various tasks, mirroring the responsibilities typically undertaken by interns.  Students will have the opportunity to attend outpatient clinics and multidisciplinary meetings.

  • Orthopaedics

    The Bendigo Health orthopaedic surgical team provides specialist care for conditions affecting the bones and joints. This includes urgent trauma, such as fractures, as well as joint replacements and other chronic conditions of the bones and joints. Students will have opportunities to attend theatre sessions for a range of elective and emergency surgeries for all age groups involving bones, ligaments, tendons or muscles. Students also attend ward rounds, and outpatient clinics, and assist with unit clinical activities under supervision.

  • Paediatrics and Child Health

    Bendigo Health Children’s Services provides children and families with family-centred, multi-disciplined, personalised, high-quality care, whilst maintaining close links with the community. The service offers a range of care for children, from early infancy through to adolescence, requiring medical, surgical, orthopaedic, and ENT services. Students are considered valuable members of the paediatrics team. Students will attend ward rounds, participate in afternoon clinics under supervision, and proactively liaise with the team in assisting with rapid review clinics.

  • Palliative Care

    Bendigo Health’s integrated palliative care service encompasses Community Palliative Care, a Regional Palliative Care Consultancy service, Day Hospice, and an Inpatient Hospice service. The Specialist Palliative Care Evaluation Unit (SPCEU) houses ten inpatient palliative care beds and provides specialist palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses who are no longer receiving acute care. The service can include end-of-life care, symptom relief, and respite. Students will closely collaborate with the team doctors in hospice, where they will actively participate in the day-to-day operations under the supervision and encouragement of the entire team. Students will assume an integral role within the team, performing various functions under supervision. The placement also offers opportunities for students to gain exposure to other facets of palliative care, such as with the community team, the consultancy team (within the health care group and regionally), and outpatient services.

  • Renal

    Bendigo Health Renal Service offers comprehensive and multidisciplinary assessment care and management of kidney disease and kidney failure. In addition to the allocated hospital beds, the renal team manages 12 community dialysis chairs and 4 acute dialysis chairs, and treats renal transplant recipients and patients with chronic kidney disease. Students will undertake a pre-intern role within the unit under supervision. Students will also attend outpatient clinics and review patients in the clinic under supervision. There are fortnightly renal education and journal club meetings that students will attend.

  • Urology

    The Bendigo Health Urology team provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services for patients with conditions related to the urinary system. Students will attend ward rounds, theatre sessions and outpatient clinics. There are also unit meetings and multidisciplinary team meetings.