UOW medical student Caleb Watson show’s Marian’s Ella Peters how to do a reflex hammer test. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Marian Catholic College student Ella Peters was nervous about hitting someone in the jaw with a hammer.
“You can do it; don’t tense up; use a bit of muscle,” medical student Caleb Watson told her.
Using a small rubber hammer to test nerve function was one of many skills Ella and other Riverina school students learned during the Be a Health Hero program this week.
Held over three days at the Country Universities Centre, the program featured hands-on workshops and career exploration sessions focused on nursing, allied health and medicine. Sessions were delivered by the University of Wollongong, Kinetic Medicine and George & Matilda Eyecare, alongside talks from current regional university health students.
“I learned how you hit someone under the kneecap to make sure someone’s nerves are still working after an accident,” Hillston Central student Bhumika Biswa said.
“I think I’d like to do an allied health career when I finish school, but I’m still not sure.”
Marian student Anji Nafria said she attended to explore the different pathways available in healthcare.
“I didn’t know nurses were pretty close to doctors in terms of what they can do. It’s something I’d consider,” she said.
UOW’s Bethany Donlan teaches Peter Tinomanani and Fei Ataela how to test blood pressure. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Katie Friedlieb, from the NSW Department of Education’s Regional Industry Education Partnerships, said the program gave Year 10 and 11 students a chance to test the waters if they were considering a health career.
“Be a Health Hero is a program that started in Wagga and expanded into Albury, and this is the first time it’s been in the Western Riverina. We have Griffith and Leeton versions running this week,” she said.
“Today there are University of Wollongong students running activities and showing 15 students some of the tasks nurses do in hospitals.
“This program allows students to learn about a variety of health practitioner roles. They might start the week wanting to be a doctor but then learn about a position they didn’t know about.”
Leeton-raised medical student Caleb Watson, who is close to graduating, said he enjoyed passing on his knowledge and hoped some students would follow in his footsteps.
“I’ve been doing placements in Griffith and working with Dr Nigel Kennedy, who has been absolutely brilliant, and I’ve also had experience in the emergency department,” he said.
“I feel you get to learn more in a rural area because you get to do more than you do in metro centres.”
Regional Development Australia’s Katie Pastro said the event had been a major success.
“We are happy to support this program. I’ve been nagging them to get this out to the Western Riverina and we’ve had some great attendance from all the schools,” she said.
Original Article published by Oliver Jacques on Region Riverina.
