Veronica Groat receives a health check from nursing students Sheila Gumede and Ashu Sahdev.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
Rochester residents took advantage of free health checks on Tuesday, November 18, as part of the Healthy Towns pop-up clinic program.
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The program involved 24 first-year nursing students from La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus, who visited towns across the region to provide services while completing their placement hours.
The students split into three groups, rotating between Kyabram Hospital, Kyabram’s main street and a mobile outreach team that visited smaller towns, including Rochester.
Throughout the day, the outreach team offered clinical screenings, which assessed blood pressure, blood glucose, temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation and pain scores.
Students also enjoyed the chance to connect and converse with community members.
Nursing student Maya Pollock said she enjoyed getting to know the community members during the program.
“It’s been good just gaining experience,” she said.
“Some (people) have been excited because they don't really go to the doctor much ... so it's good to check in with them and make sure that they're okay.
“(I’ve) definitely just enjoyed talking to people ... you get to learn so much from all their health conditions, and we get to research all the medications and their history and everything and like put things together ourselves ... it makes us think a bit more.”
Nursing students saw a steady stream of community members throughout the day.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
Apart from Rochester, the outreach team also stopped in Kyabram, Stanhope, Tongala, Lockington, Shepparton, Girgarre, Rushworth and Tatura.
Building on last year’s successful pilot and positive feedback from students, the program returned this year with strong community support.
In addition to providing community health screenings, the program gives students firsthand experience of careers in rural healthcare.
While the nursing students perform the checks themselves, each group is guided and mentored by a professional supervisor.
Program supervisor Terence Tuohay said the program had been beneficial for both the students and communities involved.
“This has been the most variable placement I've seen in terms of their confidence, building their communication with people and just finding out people's stories,” he said.
“From day one, they're nervous and then day two, day three, they just start climbing ... (the program) has massive advantages for the students, and they're just all so involved and happy.
“The communities have been fantastic and hopefully, it gives a little bit to them as well ... I think it's great for both parties.”
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