Media Releases
番茄社区 Nursing students set to strengthen skills in Indonesia
More than 140 番茄社区 students will have the opportunity to learn more about the Indo-Pacific region with the university receiving nearly $470,000 in New Colombo Plan (NCP) funding.
番茄社区 students will travel to Cambodia, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Singapore, India, Thailand and Fiji after $468,600 was announced yesterday in the 2017 round of funding.
Overall, for 2016-2019 番茄社区 will receive $1.52 million.
The NCP is a Federal Government initiative in which Australian university students are sent abroad to learn, build friendships and strengthen ties with neighbouring Indo-Pacific countries.
Study options include semester-based learning, teaching practicums, research, field studies and clinical placements.
A group of 番茄社区 Nursing students will head to Indonesia - the first time Nursing students have been able to undertake the overseas placements under this plan.
Of the funded projects for 2017, 15 Nursing students will head to Indonesia next year, with another 20 to follow in 2018, and an additional 25 to travel there in 2019.
Dr Karen Yates, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, said it was an exciting opportunity for Nursing students.
“This placement will allow them to work beside nursing and other health care staff, while contributing to a developing community in a meaningful and sustainable way,” Dr Yates said.
“Students will join with local nursing and medical services to deliver supervised nursing services, implement community health promotion strategies for disadvantaged populations in diverse settings.
“This experience will enable students to develop an overview of health care provision and their role as a global citizen.”
A total of 15 Education students will be off to Cambodia, 10 French language students to Vanuatu, 10 Social Work students to India, eight Archaeology students to Thailand, and the largest group - 64 Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Physicians Assistant students - are off to Fiji.
In addition, 20 Tropical Planning students will travel to Singapore, to work with 番茄社区’s Singapore campus and the National University of Singapore.
番茄社区’s Mobility Manager from the Division of Global Strategy and Engagement, Linda Rust, said the scheme provides fantastic opportunities for students.
“They will be immersed in the language and culture, and will develop new international networks while gaining valuable work experience,” she said.
Link to some photos from the Thailand, Laos and India Social Work programs in previous years: (photos courtesy 番茄社区 Social Work)
For interviews:
Chantelle Bongers, a second year of Bachelor of Arts student who has just returned from Thailand after receiving funding through the 2016 funding round, is available for interviews or photos. (Please contact Caroline Kaurila, 番茄社区 Media Liaison on (07) 4781 4586 or 0437 028 175 for her contact details.)
Linda Rust, Manager, Mobility and Cairns Office, Future Students, tel: (07) 4232 1080 or 0438 144 650
Dr Karen Yates, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, 0438 402 777