A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student has taken her enthusiasm to become a health professional to high school students to the Top End.
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Orange-based Bachelor of Physiotherapy student Amy Reif was one of six university students selected nationally to take part in the Northern Territory Rural High School Visits Program, funded by the Australian Government.
Among the aims of the program is encouraging teenagers to remain at school and consider health careers and options available to students through tertiary education.
Ms Reif said the group visited six different high schools to present to groups of students from Years 10 to 12.
“We discussed our journeys towards becoming a health professional, worked through a problem-based learning scenario, and discussed barriers to university,” she said.
“The feedback we received from the students showed we had either converted students into wanting to study one of our health disciplines, or encouraged the students to simply consider applying for university, which was a fantastic outcome.”
The university group’s time in the nation’s north wasn’t all spent in high schools.
Ms Reif explained the group also toured the Royal Darwin Hospital with local doctors and travelled south to Katherine for a night to visit an Aboriginal Medical Service and the Katherine Hospital.
The visits to health-based facilities were especially enlightening and helpful.
“We were able to have a one-on-one discussion with someone from our health disciplines about career pathways and working in rural and remote areas,” Ms Reif explained.
“This was extremely beneficial as I'm at the stage in my final year of university where I need to consider employment opportunities for next year.
"I am very interested in remaining in a regional area, whether that is in a hospital environment or private practice.”
Ms Reif encouraged anyone weighing up their tertiary options to consider heading down the path she is on.
“I loved the experience in the NT and encourage other Charles Sturt University students to get involved in the program next year,” she said.
“Being surrounded by people who are all so passionate about expanding healthcare in rural and remote Australia was incredibly inspiring and something I will never forget.”
