G’Day! Francine Riley Student Initiatives Senior Project Officer Health Careers in the Bush program: Encouraging rural and remote students towards health careers. 22nd June 2010

Today… Why am I here? Where is Brisbane, Australia? What is Health Workforce Queensland? What is Health Careers in the Bush?

Why am I here? To contribute to the sharing of information, ideas and tips between like minded organisations around the world To learn from your programs and your successes To raise awareness of our efforts in Queensland, Australia To see the sights! (My first visit to America)

Where is Brisbane, Australia? Capital City is Canberra

Where is Brisbane, Australia? From Desert to Snow and everything in between… BRISBANE

Where is Brisbane, Australia?

Where is Brisbane, Australia?

Close to home…

Close to home…

Health Workforce Queensland We are primarily funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to Support Primary Health Care in rural and remote communities in Queensland

Health Workforce Queensland Funded to provide services to rural and remote areas only

Our Teams and ‘The Pipeline’ Student Initiatives Team: Health Careers in the Bush Student Initiatives Team: Universities and Rural Health Clubs ATTRACTION High School & University RECRUITMENT Domestic and International RETENTION General Practitioners Recruitment Team: Private GP Recruitment & Migration service Quality Use of Medicines Team: Drug treatment guidance to GP’s Data & Research Team: Policy Development Medical Education and Training Team: GP Professional Development QRMFN: GP Family Support GP Locum support

Our Teams and ‘The Pipeline’ Student Initiatives Team: Health Careers in the Bush Student Initiatives Team: Universities and Rural Health Clubs ATTRACTION High School & University RECRUITMENT Domestic and International RETENTION General Practitioners Recruitment Team: Private GP Recruitment & Migration service Quality Use of Medicines Team: Drug treatment guidance to GP’s Data & Research Team: Policy Development Medical Education and Training Team: GP Professional Development QRMFN: GP Family Support GP Locum support

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION Recruitment team RECRUITMENT & RETENTION End-to-end recruitment service for private rural and remote General Practice and Aboriginal Medical Services Migration service Locum service

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION Recruitment team RECRUITMENT & RETENTION 1169 GP’s employed in rural and remote QLD at 30/11/09 (increase of 39 from 30/11/08) 579 (49.6%) of them obtained basic medical qualification overseas UK (90), India (89), South Africa (78), United State of America (1)

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION Recruitment team RECRUITMENT & RETENTION Increase of GP recruits for rural practice 19 recruits Jul04 – Jun05 44 recruits Jul 08 – Jun09 100% of recruits received orientation 2. An average of 75 locum placements coordinated each year since 2005

Medical Education & Training team RETENTION Providing access to quality education and training for GP’s in Queensland Procedural and Non-Procedural Workshops E.g. Rural Emergency Medicine, Emergency Paediatrics, Women’s Health and Skin Cancer 3. All workshops are accredited by our GP training colleges for Continuing Professional Development points

Medical Education & Training team RETENTION 2007: 253 delegates over 13 workshops 2008: 442 delegates over 28 workshops 2009: 400 delegates over 27 workshops 92% of delegates in 2009 agreed or strongly agreed that workshop attendance helped alleviate professional isolation 96% of delegates agreed or strongly agreed that they gained confidence in practicing rurally

Queensland Rural Medical Family Network RETENTION Providing support to spouses and families of our rural doctors Orientation Kit for new rural families Newsletter and network of volunteers for peer support Small grants available to facilitate networking events in their community

Quality Use of Medicines team RETENTION Providing unbiased, evidence-based advice on drug treatment and other initiatives to rural GP’s 350 rural GP’s participated in education visits Jul08-Jun09 Topics include Treating the symptoms of Dementia and Early use of Insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs

Data Research and Evaluation team RETENTION Maintaining a comprehensive information system in relation to the rural and remote medical workforce Workforce modelling, monitoring and analysis of trends and issues Reliable, accurate and timely data to influence policy for the rural medical workforce

My team: Student Initiatives ATTRACTION Three main ‘hats’ University Rural Health Club support Other University support Health Careers in the Bush Program

My team: Student Initiatives 1. University Rural Health Club support Supporting these clubs to provide positive rural health experiences to their members Contracted as TROHPIQ’s administrators Provide governance and business advice Provide conference sponsorship Provide access to our Education Workshops Clubs are primarily funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

My team: Student Initiatives 2. Other University support Advocacy for the clubs to the Deans and Vice Chancellors of their Universities Annual General Practice ‘Dinner of Excellence’ Sponsorship of JCU Graduation

My team: Student Initiatives 3. Health Careers in the Bush Program Member of the Health Careers in the Bush Alliance Health Career Workshops (Camps) since 1994 Rural High School Visits since 2004 Website and resources Evaluations and tracking

Health Careers in the Bush Health Career Workshops (Camps) Junior, Senior & Indigenous (4 per year) 4 days (live in) University, Hospital and health facility tours and lectures Funded and coordinated by Queensland Health 30

Health Careers in the Bush Health Career Workshops Testimonials “Thank you for letting me come and learn a whole new world for me. Thank you” “I really enjoyed this, it has helped a lot with my future career choices, I would recommend this workshop to others” “Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this workshop, it has been a great help to learn and discover about different health professions…” “It has changed my views on everything. The opportunities you have provided me with are excellent.” 33

4 Workshops per year on average Where do they come from? 1300 students between 1994-2009 4 Workshops per year on average

Health Careers in the Bush Rural High School Visits 3 – 4 day road trips around Queensland Facilitated by the Rural Health Club members (University students who have ‘been there, done that’) Training, logistical coordination, printed booklets and equipment provided by Health Workforce Queensland Funded by Health Workforce Queensland and the Rural Health Clubs 35

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Health Careers in the Bush Rural High School Visits Testimonials “How they told us what it was like at uni, I feel now like I'm more motivated for my future career” “Hearing experiences from present students and how they are enjoying their courses” “They knew what they were talking about and could answer any questions. Hands on activities were cool” “The presentation really made me think about working in the health careers” 39

Where do we go? 5-8 schools per trip 5-40 students per school = around 1000 students per year Increased the number of schools visited from 17 to 39 per year since 2006

Health Careers in the Bush Why do we do it? Break down the perceived barriers of entering a health career Illustrate the wide variety of exciting health professions Explain that it’s not all about getting the top mark at school (although completing Year 12 is an advantage) That university students from rural areas have been there and done that (and are loving it) so you can too! 41

Health Careers in the Bush Evaluations - Workshops In 2004 there was a Research Evaluation Project conducted for all workshop participants between 1994 and 2002 Out of 70 students interviewed 63 were either employed in the health industry or studying to do so The top three factors contributing to their career choice were: Self interest (62 rated as very high or high) Attendance at HCW (34) OP Score (27) 42

Health Careers in the Bush Evaluations – Rural School Visits Three forms of feedback Student satisfaction Teacher satisfaction Facilitator satisfaction A formal research project on the influence of RHSV for high school students is difficult. But anecdotally…it helps! RHSV is not only beneficial to the school students but to the facilitators as well. Could a rural town they visit be their future workplace one day? 43

Health Careers in the Bush 44

Health Careers in the Bush Evaluations – Rural School Visits Currently considering ways to improve our ‘tracking’ of high school students E.g. Membership forms of the Rural Health Clubs Ad hoc data collection through chatting to students, hearing from doctors and asking HCW and RHSV mentors Limited $ for research Closer relationship with universities and input into their selection processes is required 45

Health Careers in the Bush Resources www.healthcareersinthebush.com Profiles on over 26 health professions Includes up to date OP scores and pre-requisites Careers in TAFE Scholarships and Grants database 3 videos produced CD-Rom, printed booklet and pens! 46

Thank You! www.healthworkforce.com.au www.healthcareersinthebush.com www.nrhsn.org.au friley@healthworkforce.com.au Ph: +61 7 3105 7800