Collaboration is key on Thailand placement

For the first time, three departments from MSHS have undertaken a joint overseas interdisciplinary clinical placement. Lucy Shiels (Audiology), Philippa Marriott (Nursing), and Dr Jonathan Ng (Optometry) supervised ten students on this international expedition, in conjunction with Challenges Abroad and Futures Senses in Mae Sariang, Thailand.

Students Sabrina Huang and Sarah Liew from Audiology, Jacinta Orgill, Elise Taylor, Dorson Tu and Mae Oakley from Nursing and Chaewon Baik, Sandra Cheng, Phoebe Lee and Phoenix Poon from Optometry and Vision Sciences took part in the placement.

Navigating language barriers, power outages and most significantly the heat, the students worked together to deliver healthcare workshops in three schools and a community just outside Mae Sariang. The nursing students focused on reproductive health, adapting content for different ages, and were assisted by the audiology and optometry students to deliver the sessions and help the school children with their activities. The nursing students reciprocated the support during the optometry and audiology workshops focused on eye and ear health.

The audiology and optometry students completed thorough vision and hearing assessments with community members who were school-aged all the way to 80-year-olds. Overall, they assessed 50 children and 60 adults. While the community clinics were running, the nursing students were at the local hospital assessing people that arrived through the door for an appointment or urgent care. Over five days, the nursing students took blood pressure, pulse and other assessment data from over 500 people, ranging in age from 5 to 90 years.

This collaborative experience truly brought the students together. They supported each other in their practice, gained a deeper understanding of one another's careers, and formed lasting friendships. The trip was not all patient care though – during the two-week period, students and supervisors participated in community rubbish clean ups, played cards, ate very well and visited some of the beautiful temples in the mountains. Overall, it was a very productive, exciting trip and hopefully the start of many more to come!