Partnerships and Placements – Vertical Integration in Clinical

LearningA/Prof Amanda Barnard

A/Prof Jennifer Thomson

Mr Peter Pinnington

Where

• Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Services in Narrabundah , A.C.T.

• Hosted by Winnunga staff

• First meeting early 2005

Why

• Many players, many needs• ANUMS -incorporates all elements of the Indigenous

Health Framework into its 4 year curriculum -Focus on community based clinical experience

in year 3 • ANUMS holds the contract for GP registrar education in

the region with CCCT. • Established good relationships with Winnunga

Nimmityjah and Katungul Aboriginal Corporation on far South Coast NSW

• SENSWDGP increasing involvement in Indigenous health

What we did

• Committee representing all stakeholders involved in delivering Indigenous health training and clinical placements for medical students and GP registrars in the ACT and SENSW was convened

• Issues, challenges and ‘dreams’ were all discussed

• Collaborative decisions on optimal training and clinical placements were made – and more

Who

• Winnunga staff – CEO Julie Tongs, Dr Peter Sharpe

• Katungul Aboriginal Corporation• Australian National University Medical

School staff – School of General Practice, Rural and Indigenous Health

• Coast City Country Training• SENSW Division of General Practice• GPET

What we found and learned • That we shared common goals, and that there was enormous goodwill

shared. The challenge lies in sustaining this

• Aboriginal health workers from Winnunga keen to be involved in teaching of students and registrars

• Clinical placements integrated with other teaching - students and registrars• Early student interest and enthusiasm could be supported, without unduly

stretching resources or capacity• ANUMS infrastructure support of placements at Winnunga is critical • Students and staff value longer term attachments – further development

work

• Integration of distance academic support for students and registrars was possible but one of the most challenging issues

Gaining momentum

• Move from initial brief of coordinating placements to wider collaboration

• Indigenous Health Prize for students – funded by CCCT

• ANUMS/ Winnunga cultural awareness training – registrars, staff, GPs

• This used as model to develop SENSWDGP collaboration for regional GPs

• Katungul/SENSWDGP/ANUMS – Healthy for Life

Winnunga staff involvement in the ANUMS curriculum

• Winnunga staff are extensively involved in teaching and clinical supervision, and their enthusiasm and support is reflected in student interest and involvement in Indigenous health.

• 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year workshops, and the associated small group sessions.

• Winnunga hosted 32 first year students who, inspired by their first introduction to Indigenous health, wanted more!

• Year 3 – 18 students spent 3 weeks each on clinical placement with the medical staff. Winnunga also provided tours and an over view of their services to the other 81 year 3 medical students in small groups during their community placements.

• Year 4 students had 2 week placements with Winnunga staff during Womens Health term.

• Winnunga staff also co-supervised student research projects.

ANUMS staff working in Indigenous health

• 2 GPs from Academic Unit of Gernal Practice work at Winnunga part time

• Registrars every semester

• Katungul and SENSWDGP – Healthy for Life• Professor of Paediatrics – child health clinics• Students as ‘manpower’ on child health day

Implications and the future

• Successful structure and support of integrated clinical placements for medical students and GP registrars, and ongoing review through regular meetings.

• Maintaining momentum in post establishment phase

• Further work in clarifying roles and relationships, possibly in the form of an MoU, and ensuring ongoing strength of partnerships