Interdisciplinary student placement in Cambodia
From 5-19 July, 14 students from our Nursing, Optometry and Speech Pathology disciplines undertook a two-week placement in Battambang, Cambodia.
This was the second time the School has returned to the region as part of its ongoing relationship with Challenges Abroad and the Futuresense Foundation, continuing its commitment to global learning and community engagement. This placement enabled the students to gain practice experience and collaborate with local stakeholders and across healthcare disciplines.
Speech Pathology students designed and delivered interactive, literacy-based workshops to children aged 5–15, focusing on language development beyond the clinical setting and supporting English classrooms in local schools; Nursing students delivered workshops on healthy eating and nutrition; Optometry students conducted visual acuity screenings - some of which were done in collaboration with their peers from other disciplines.
The placement deepened student understanding and appreciation of healthcare delivery and collaboration in cross-cultural contexts, responding to community-specific health needs, and adapting their approach to care in resource-limited environments. The experience left a lasting impact on many of the students, particularly in how it shaped their views on access to healthcare, community resilience, and their future careers.
Chloe, one of the Master of Speech Pathology students, reflected on her experience:
What did this experience teach you about healthcare in a global or community setting?
“This experience reiterated for me how different healthcare can look across borders, especially noticing what is prioritised in communities where healthcare may not be as readily available. As a Speech Pathology student, the community wanted us to use our skills and knowledge of language acquisition to help in the English classrooms - which is not something I expected to be part of a healthcare placement!”
How has this placement influenced your path or thinking as a future health professional?
“Growing up in regional Victoria, this experience has solidified with me my desire to work in rural Australia in smaller communities where healthcare teams are more scarce. Although I would love to work internationally one day, I would like to prioritise helping my wider community first with the skills I've attained from my postgraduate studies.”
What moment from the trip will stick with you the longest?
“This was not something I witnessed directly, but a student colleague of mine reported that a student in her classroom was using just the ink reservoir (? is that what it's called?) to write with because he didn't have a proper pen. This really struck me because despite his lack of resources, his desire to learn and work with what he had was so strong that he was willing to use just the barest of equipment to write notes.”
Future Sense Foundation “Little Eyes, Big Impact” fundraising
As part of their commitment to meaningful community engagement, the Optometry students initiated a grassroots fundraising campaign, Little Eyes, Big Impact, which raised over $3,400 through donations from family and friends. The funds were used to provide prescription glasses for children identified during vision screenings and support referrals for further eye care, including more complex clinical assessments. This student-led initiative went beyond the placement’s immediate activities, aiming to ensure long-term impact and continuity of care for children in Battambang. “We didn’t want to be a ‘fly-in, fly-out’ service,” said student Mikayla Dutton. “We wanted to see the process through and ensure people genuinely received the care they needed.” The experience had a profound effect on the group’s sense of professional purpose. “Receiving photos of those children wearing their new spectacles honestly brought me to tears,” Mikayla added. “It proved that with drive and passion, you really can achieve anything.” Their work not only provided tangible health outcomes for local families but also helped foster global citizenship and long-term partnerships through compassionate, student-led action.
