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PENINSULA ONLINEIssue 6 OT supporting rehabilitation in developing worldOccupational therapy staff and students from Monash University have had a direct impact on improving the human condition while working at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh. Ms Lisa O’Brien, a lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the Peninsula campus, recently spent two weeks in Bangladesh as a volunteer for Interplast, a not-for-profit organisation providing access to surgical and allied health services in developingcountries in the Asia Pacific region. Monash OT also supported Lisa’s attendance at CRP during her time in Bangladesh. As well as Lisa and Occupational Therapist colleagues Jane Aarons and Patrice O'Brien, two third year OT students, Gareth Moloney and Luke Robinson, also travelled to Bangladesh as part of their placement program. “I had been aware of Interplast’s work for many years and knew that their focus was to train and empower developing world doctors and therapists,” Lisa explained. “But I had never been involved in a program like this before. Lisa ran training courses in hand therapy and conducted workshops on splinting and constructing pressure garments. She also provided one-on-one coaching for CRP Occupational Therapists during clinical sessions with their patients, and gave feedback to local fourth year OT students on research ideas.
"The type of injuries seen at CRP include burns, hand fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and brachial plexus injury affecting hand function," Lisa explained. "In terms of a clinical setting this was quite a different experience for me, as I work in acute trauma in Melbourne, and many of these conditions and injuries were long-term and had been managed poorly allowing them to progress to levels of deformity rarely seen in Australia." Lisa also ensured that students Gareth and Luke were settled in and that their clinical supervisors were clear regarding their roles and responsibilities. "Both Luke and Gareth showed interest in doing a placement in a developing country from early in their OT studies,” Lisa explained. “They focused on spinal cord injuries at CRP, Luke with acute in-patients, and Gareth in the transitional living centre patients live in before going home. Lisa says both students took to Bangladesh with great gusto, and immersed themselves in local habits, such as eating curry for every meal including breakfast, shopping at the local Bazaars and riding in rickshaws. They have gone out of their way to meet the locals, and most nights saw them playing basketball with the spinal-cord patients and the local OT students. Gareth said his interest in health care in developing countries was sparked while travelling through Southeast Asia and seeing some of the work being undertaken with landmine victims by Handicap International. "Many of the clients at CRP have very serious injuries, and once they leave they will most likely return to a setting where they will not be able to access suitable health care because its not affordable or available, which is the harsh reality of their life," Gareth explained. While in Bangladesh, Gareth spent time working in the transitional living unit that allows clients to live in a facility for two weeks in a situation that that replicates their own home or village environment. "If the patient doesn’t have power, they stay in the building without power. There is a tube well for those who don’t have access to water on tap. Over this time clients are taught functional skills like independent transfers from rickshaws, wheelchair skills for a variety of terrain as well as how to manage the normal activities of daily living. "While at CRP I’ve learnt the importance of educating clients about their injury while giving them ways they can continue treatment once they return to their homes. "It has given me a valuable chance to see how OT is applied in a culture which is very different to Australia, meet new people, both from Bangladesh and around the world, and visit a part of the world that most people will never see and experience," Gareth said. Open Day briefing for staff
As most staff are aware Open Day is fast approaching. Berwick, Gippsland, Parkville and Peninsula campuses are open on Saturday 1 August while Caulfield and Clayton campuses are open on Sunday 2 August. All campuses are open from 10 am to 4 pm. To assist staff working on the day, the Marketing and Student Recruitment Division is running a briefing sessions that will cover the following:
This sessions will be held at Peninsula campus on Tuesday 21 July from 10-11 am in room A1.17 (registration is not necessary). For further information contact Julie Baxter or visit www.monash.edu/openday MONSU comedy night
MONSU Peninsula will be hosting a Comedy Evening on 30 July as part of 'DisOrientation' Week. Proceeds go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Business Associates BreakfastIt is the topic on everyone's agenda -- how to be more 'green' is this current economic environment. Find out how Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses successfully transitioned to a greenhouse emissions abatement program. Ralph Plarre, Production CEO and Director of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, will present 'Green business is great business', at the next Business Associates Breakfast presented in conjunction with WISE EMPLOYMENT. Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse is in its fifth generation of family ownership and believes that only through proactively seeking sustainable business practices will future generations be able to enjoy the world as we know it today. Ralph’s grandfather, Otto Plarre, opened Plarre Bakeries in 1911 in Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds. Ralph started in the family business as a youngster and is as excited as ever about the future. The Business Breakfast will be held on 23 July at the Seahorse Tavern commencing at 7.15 am with registrations. Price is $38 per person. Contact Narelle Krueger for bookings. MPA contact at Peninsula
The Monash Postgraduate Association (MPA) will have a staff member available on campus every Tuesday morning during semester from 9 am to 12 noon located in the Postgraduate Studies Centre in room S1.03a. The MPA is the representative body for all research and coursework postgraduate students enrolled through Monash University's Victorian campuses. They aim to serve the interests and welfare of postgraduates by directing activities and projects towards their specific needs. As well as providing a range of services to postgraduate students, they represent postgraduates both collectively and individually, providing a recognised means of communication between the postgraduate body and the academic and administrative bodies of the university. Postgrad students at Peninsula can use this opportunity to discuss ideas, issues or concerns with the MPA representative. Feel free to drop in on Tuesday mornings to meet Christiane or make an appointment by emailing. Upcoming Careers FairsStaff are asked to remind students about Employment and Career Development's upcoming Careers Expos. Berwick Careers ExpoGain a head-start on your career by attending the Berwick Careers Expo! This will be a great opportunity to:
Time: 1 to 2:30 pm For further information visit the website. Gippsland Careers ExpoRepresentatives from a diverse range of organisations will be attending to inform you of undergraduate and graduate career opportunities in the Gippsland region and beyond. So come along to:
Time: 12 noon to 2 pm For further information visit the website Summer Vacation, Internships and International Careers FairA broad range of international as well as Australian organisations with national and international reach are invited in order to:
There may be an opportunity to attend campus interviews with visiting international delegates on Friday 7 August, so have your resumes ready and practice your interview skills now. What better way to head off overseas than with a great job waiting for you when you get there. Time: 1 pm to 4 pm For further information contact visit the website. Performing arts program at Clayton
Rhapsody As part of the Monash University Open Day celebrations, the Monash Academy Orchestra directed by Jeffrey Crellin will perform a special afternoon concert at the Robert Blackwood Hall, Clayton campus. Acclaimed Australian pianist Michael Kieran Harvey will perform George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Michael is one of Australia's most celebrated performers, with a prodigious reputation not only as a champion of new music, but also as one of the most exciting pianists of his generation. WHEN: Sunday 2 August, 2-3 pm, Robert Balckwood Hall, Clayton.
Lysistrata Lysistrata is an outrageous comedy, rude and sophisticated and as relevant today as it was over 2000 years ago. Fed up with her man going off to war and wanting an end to it, our ancient activist Lysistrata calls the women of Greece to take a stand. They will go on a sex strike in an attempt to get the men to stop the fighting and start the lovin'. WHEN: 13-15 August at the Alexander Theatre For more information and tickets contact the Box Office on extn 51111or via the web. How to clean your home greenDetox your home with Bridget Gardner Melbourne’s Green Clean Guru! Wellbeing at Monash together with the Office of Environmental Sustainability present this fresh, green, cleaning workplace workshop that will be full of great advice about cleaning your home with less impact on our health, less strain on the environment, less time and effort, and less cost to the back pocket! Date: Wednesday 5 August, 2009 Health prizesTwo scholarships are available to students at Peninsula studying a health related discipline. A $500 essay prizes is open to any undergraduate health student at Peninsula. >more A $1000 Research Study Scholarship for a Masters student in a health discipline at Peninsula. >more |
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