In August 2022 I was lucky enough to be chosen by my university to attend a four week placement in Alice Springs Hospital. For my placement I was allocated the paediatric ward. Throughout, I was exposed to the health inequalities that the First Nations people face.
This clinical placement benefited me as a nurse and individual as it enhanced my understanding of Indigenous cultures, emphasising the importance of providing high-quality care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Given this opportunity, I obtained significant knowledge and experience within the regional and remote health care setting.
I got to attend an Introduction to Central Australian Aboriginal Cultures and Context which I achieved a certificate for.
This education day explored cross-cultural communications and introduced Indigenous cultures in Central Australia. It also outlined the health status of Indigenous peoples, social determinants of health and how health influences aspects of life.
I feel so privileged to have been able to experience this student role in Alice Springs Hospital as it allowed me to adapt and build on my nursing skills to enhance my contribution as a practitioner.
Within the placement I also experienced the beautiful sites of Central Australia such as Uluru, MacDonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon and Field of Lights.
I would also like to thank HESTA for their Sponsorship of my Scholarship.
This CRANAplus Undergraduate Remote Placement Scholarship was sponsored by HESTA.
