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PENINSULA ONLINEIssue 7
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Dr Jane Tracy, project leader from Centre for Developmental Disability Health, explained that the healthcare of people with a disability generally involves collaboration between a range of health professionals.
“Students will benefit both from understanding the contribution each healthcare professional makes to the healthcare team, and by understanding the way in which effective communication and collaboration between team members enhances the care of the patient,” she explained.
“Teamwork is best learnt through demonstration and experience, and this example of Inter Professional Education provides an opportunity for students to learn together and hence understand the perspective, knowledge and skills each brings to the team, and the synergy of working effectively together.“
Dr Tracy believes that, through working with people with disabilities, students’ acquire attitudes, skills and knowledge applicable to working with many other patient groups such as people with communication impairments, cognitive difficulties, complex and chronic medical conditions, physical disabilities, those disadvantaged by social stigma, prejudice and/or other social or financial difficulties.
“People with these issues face many barriers to good healthcare. These barriers could be minimised and outcomes enhanced by health professionals understanding the contribution each makes to, and the ways to best work together within, an effective multidisciplinary team.”
The project outcome will be a website accessed through MUSO (Monash University Studies Online) giving Monash students easy access to the available learning material...The website will be organized around 6 “stories” of people with disabilities and explore the impact of disability on their lives, relevant health concerns, and access to healthcare services. The project lends itself to valuable opportunities in Interprofessional Education.
For more information about 'Health and Disability: Partnerships in Action', contact Dr Jane Tracy, Ms Sally Hanson or Ms Jenny Galea at the Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria on 03 9564 7511.
Dr Ted Brown, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy, recently attended the 4th Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress (APOTC) in Hong Kong.
Ted, together with OT PhD student Chi Wen Chien (Will), presented papers at the conference on the 'Learning style preferences of Australian occupational therapy undergraduate students' and the 'Rasch analysis of the fine motor scale of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales – second edition in Taiwanese children' respectively.
The congress, with the theme 'Embracing Cultural Diversity Through Innovative Practice', was organised by the Hong Kong Occupational Therapy Association, the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Held every four years, the congress attracts attendees from all over the Asia-Pacific region with over 800 occupational therapists from Bangladesh, the Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, China, Iran, Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, USA and UK in attendance.
Ted explained that the conference provided a range of great networking opportunities for both himself and Will.
"Attending such a big event provides a great context to network with other occupational therapy colleagues from the Asia-Pacific region while gaining perspectives through the outstanding educational and research sessions presented," he said. "It also helped to place Monash University Department of Occupational Therapy in the Asia-Pacific occupational therapy arena."
Thanks to the congress, Ted has established research links with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and has also been asked to become a member of the editorial board of the Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy.
"Another outcome of attending the congress is that Monash University Department of Occupational Therapy staff have been invited to attend and present at the 2008 International Occupational Therapy Congress being held in Guangzhou China in October 2008," Ted said.
This, according to Ted, is a significant opportunity for Monash as currently the profession of occupational therapy does not exist in China and the first accredited occupational therapy school only opened in Beijing last year.
"Therefore, the 2008 Occupational Therapy Congress will play an important role in establishing the occupational therapy profession in China where its services are greatly needed," Ted said. At present, there are approximately 65 million people with disabilities in China and only about 200 qualified therapists to provide services.
Monash University's Work Life Consultant, Ms Judith Cooke, is pleased to announce details of a Lads and Dads workshop that will be held on Peninsula campus.
This is a highly interactive session which can be conducted with group sizes of between 15 and 150.
The expected outcomes are:
For more information on this workshop visit the website or contact Judith Cooke on extn 20252.
While most Education students will spend January taking a well earned
summer break, a small group of music education enthusiasts will be touring
wintry Europe with Peninsula's Dr Ros Smith.
With Ros and colleague Dr Jane Southcott, the masters students will spend
three weeks in Geneva, Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest and Kecskemet, observing
and participating in classes at three of the world's most renowned
institutes for music education in a follow up of their studies in the
previous semester.
"These study tours have had an enormous influence on some of our
students," Ros explained. "Apart from learning new approaches to pedagogy
from inspiring teachers, they are forced to question their understanding of
familiar ideas when they meet them in a different cultural context. It’s a
quite intense experience that I think will stay with them for the rest of
their lives."
In between classes, these cities offer a spectacular introduction to the
arts, history and culinary delights of central Europe. Musical highlights
include hearing the Vienna Boys Choir sing in the Imperial Chapel, visiting
a Hungarian folk dance club, and access to the amazing variety of music
available in Europe at the hight of the concert season.
A small number of places is available on the tour for non-students, who need
not attend classes. For further information, visit the
field trip website or email
Ros Smith.
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The Peninsula campus celebrated NAIDOC week last week with a traditional welcome to country by Elder Spokesperson from the Boonerwrung Land Council, Carolyn Briggs followed by the a performance by accomplished Didgeridoo player Ron Murray (pictured).
NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’, which was once responsible for organising activities during NAIDOC Week, and its acronym has become the name of the week itself.
Both Carolyn and Ron provided insights into their heritage and into this year's NAIDOC theme Looking Forward, Looking Blak, which is encouraging indigenous and non-indigenous Australians to explore ways they can work harmoniously.
A pledge book has been permanently set up in the Library for people to sign.
The next Monash-Peninsula Business Associates seminar will explore ways of improving the sustainable performance of businesses while boosting profits.
Representatives from the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) and the Environment Protection Authority of Victoria (EPA) Grow Me the Money Program will explain how to increase your profits by reducing input and operating costs associated with energy consumption and waste output. The presentation will also outline various case studies relevant to local business
Venue: Seahorse Tavern. Cost: $38 per person. Registrations essential. For further information contact Narelle Krueger on extn 44074.
It is that time of the semester again when students and staff can participate in the free programs offered by Health, Wellbeing and Development.
The dates and times are listed below. Staff are encouraged to attend the THRIVE session and to encourage students to attend the SMARTS program. These are both very valuable programs with considerable gains for those who participate.
Tuesday 7th August - Introduction
Tuesday 14th August - Body Awareness and Breathing
Tuesday 21th August - Relaxation
Tuesday 28th August - Sleep
Tuesday 4th September - Rational Thinking
Tuesday 11th September - Worry Control
Tuesday 18th September - Assertiveness
Tuesday 25th September - Job Stress
Time: 1 pm. Venue: Health Wellbeing and Development Group Room, Level 1, Building A.
Monday 6th August at 1 pm - Strategies for Success
Tuesday 7th August at 12 noon - Motivation and Attitude
Wednesday 8th August at 1 pm - Time Management
Thursday 9th August at 12 noon - Stress management
Venue: Health Wellbeing and Development, Group Room, Level 1,
Building A,
Students and staff can register now by calling extn 44223 or emailing Helen Kotharkis.
Students in the health sciences disciplines are invited to apply for two new prizes being offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
One prize to the value of $500 is open to all undergraduate students enrolled in the Health Sciences for the best essay on Palliative care and second prize is a Research Study Scholarship to the value of $2000 for a Masters student.
Please see the attached flier for the specific information regarding the prizes. These awards will be presented for the first time at the 2008 awards ceremony, and will become an annual prize. Please contact Melinda Warnecke, Medical Foundation Office, on extn 55971 for further details.
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