Notre Dame’s commitment to rural WA

Medicine and Education students from Notre Dame are reinforcing the University’s commitment to country Western Australia with their recent rural experiences. Medical students embarked on a week long trip to the Wheatbelt last month where they billeted with local families in Cunderdin, Kellerberrin and Merredin as part of their rural health curriculum. Whilst in these areas students experienced rural life, undertook research (on behalf of the collaboration between Notre Dame and the Combined Universities Centre for rural health) and assisted the community in special projects. Acting Head of the School of Medicine, Professor Jenny McConnell said, “Apart from being a component of the students’ academic work, this was also a great way to introduce students to the possibility of pursuing a rural career”. The Medical students were also involved in community service projects such as assisting in re-landscaping the gardens at Kellerberrin’s Aged Care Facility and also supporting the restoration of Merredin’s War Memorial Hospital site. Twenty-five education students will also take part in a rural school experience program where students complete their practicum in a Catholic school located in the country. Students will teach in the country with a large cluster of students assigned to Geraldton and Kalgoorlie. The Catholic Education Office of Western Australia has been highly supportive of Notre Dame’s program and Deputy Director of Catholic Education WA, Mary Retel, presented the students with individual subsidies for accommodation and travel expenses. Dean of the College of Education, Associate Professor Michael O’Neill said, This will be an invaluable learning experience and a great avenue for our future teachers to experience rural life first-hand and understand the general staffing issues that face schools in the country.” For media related information contact: The Media Office, University of Notre Dame, Direct line: 08 9433 0698, Mobile: 0408 959 138, Email: media@nd.edu.a