Media Release
August 9 2011
Journey for students and the aged begins
The
University of South Australia,
together with
Helping Hand Aged Care, will launch their innovative Regional Mobile
Health Clinic tomorrow, Wednesday August 10.
The specially fitted vehicle will offer high quality learning
experiences for Health Science
students while providing health services to ageing people in rural and
regional areas.
UniSA’s Dean of Health and Clinical Education
Professor Esther May says: “Since October 2010 we have 110 students
involved in working with aged care clients at Helping Hand Aged Care
facilities, and to now be able to provide mobile services in regional
areas will ensure these students are exposed to a wider group which will
allow them to learn firsthand about the needs of both rural and
metropolitan people.”
Professor May says students are gaining experience in a wide variety of
areas such as rehabilitation, nutrition, medication management and
equipment and aids. Most importantly the students are participating in
providing services under supervision in residential and community
settings, in the city and rurally.
Based at Helping Hand’s Port Pirie facility, the clinic will travel
throughout the Northern Areas Districts of South Australia providing
allied health services such as physiotherapy, podiatry and occupational
therapy.
Helping Hand Aged Care Chief Executive Officer
Ian Hardy
says: “This initiative is offering ‘real world’ learning experiences for
students as well as providing health services to ageing people in rural
and regional areas of South Australia.”
This program has been made possible by a $1.8 million grant from the
Department of Health and Ageing
and has allowed the students to gain experience and firsthand knowledge
of the kind of care ageing clients need.
Both UniSA and Helping Hand Aged Care are committed to education
approaches that stimulate interest in working in the aged care sector
and which meet the needs of older people.
The mobile clinic will be officially launched by Minister for Mental
Health and Ageing, the Hon.
Mark Butler MP, at a morning tea on the lawns of the University of
South Australia’s
City East Campus.
Over 60 guests are expected at the launch including students
representing disciplines of physiotherapy, podiatry, pharmacy,
occupational therapy and nursing.
Event details:
Mobile Health Clinic launch by the University of South Australia and
Helping Hand Aged Care
Wednesday 10 August 2011, 9:45am for a 10:00am start
University of South Australia City East Campus front lawns (cnr of North
Tce and Frome Road)
Photo/vision opportunity: The Hon. Mark Butler MP and students with the
mobile unit at UniSA, 9:45am.
Media contact
- Kelly Stone office (08) 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au