International Student Placement - Jinan, Shandong Province, China, 2008
Anna Finnane & Judith Meiklejohn
Anna Finnane and Judith Meiklejohn undertook the first international student placement in China for Bachelor of Health Science students completing the Professional Practice Unit. The host of their placement was Shandong Centre for Disease Control and the aim of their placement was to gain an understanding of a public health organization and its activities within Shandong Province. Their activities included:
- interviews with CDC staff on a variety of topics including tobacco control, HIV/Aids and non communicable disease in China
- interview with Shandong University Professor Meng to discuss Public Health undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Shandong and current Public Health research topics being undertaken at Shandong University
- field visits to a Community Health Centre, a middle school in the city of Yantai and the Farmers Health Literacy television contest in Dezhou
- the National HIV/AIDS Health education training course in Yantai, Shandong Province
- delivery of a presentation to CDC Directors and staff with discussion on the Australian Health Care System and recent public health activities
Anna and Judith's reflection on this experience:
We had the incredible opportunity to observe the challenges that public health organizations in China
currently face. With one fifth of the world 's population, a flourishing economy and changing disease patterns and emerging diseases, we gained valuable insight into public health in an international context.
Don't forget abundant food, wonderful people, great shopping and amazing sights to see along the way such as the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City and Tianamen Square.
We both expanded our knowledge and skills and know that the placement has provided us with an invaluable experience that will contribute greatly to our professional capacity in the future.
International Student Placement - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2008
Holly Pardy
In the Final semester of Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health)/Bachelor of Nursing the opportunity arose to undertake the professional public health unit internationally. I have traveled previously in South East Asia and was excited at the prospect of experiencing Vietnam in a professional context. My colleague Deborah Lambert and I were placed at the Ho Chi MInh City Nutrition Centre for three weeks, working closely with several employees who organized many activities and field trips. We were able to observe and learn about the various community programs run by the Nutrition Centre including:
- Cooking guidance classes: 1. Weaning foods 2. Chronic disease
- National Diabetes Survey
- Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention program: Puppet Show at rural primary school
- Satiety Index Food Study, Food Science Department
- Diabetes Club
- Iron Deficiency Anemia Prevention Program: Education for pregnant women
- Nutrition Centre Clinic ( daily operations)
By interviewing staff we were able to gain further insight into the Nutrition Centre, its functions and organization. After work each day, we were often invited out to socialize with Vietnamese friends and colleagues who were generous in teaching us about Vietnamese culture. The international placement to Ho Chi Minh city provided such a unique learning experience which further motivated my ambition to pursue an international health career. There were challenges that presented throughout the project but a great sense of achievement and satisfaction was gained from reporting back to our hosts and producing a comprehensive report.
For any student interested in world health, culture and societies, the international public health placement is a perfect opportunity to begin developing skills and perspectives.
International Student Placement - Hue, Vietnam, 2008
David Ireland & Myles Gibson
David Ireland and Myles Gibson had the opportunity to complete their professional placement at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, one of QUT's collaborating partner institution with the QUT-Vietnam Public Health Program.
Myles Gibson reflects on the experiences gained from this opportunity:
On August 28th, 2008 David and I left Australia for Hue, Vietnam to do our professional placement on the problem of drink-driving in Vietnam. During our placement we researched the topic of drink driving in the Vietnamese context, observed road traffic injured patients in an emergency department (alcohol was often a contributor), did observations in bars to see how many beers men consumed before driving home and interviewed students on their perceptions of drink driving. We also talked to doctors in the ER about what could be done to reduce the road traffic injury due to alcohol.
Our host, Tam from Hue UMP was just fantastic and showed us all aspects of Vietnamese life. We were invited to spend time with our host and his friends at a beach resort, attend a wedding and visit with his family while already spending Monday to Friday supervising us. During out time we learnt many things such as the basics of the language (many people speak English), the policy on road safety, the funding for research projects such as Tam's, the social habits of the Vietnamese and how the hospital operates.
We also did some touring around central Vietnam, including Hoi An and Hanoi. The most beautiful place that we visited was Lang Co beach where we stayed one night and did karaoke and ate a lot of bizarre food.
This experience is definitely the best thing that I have done in my studies so far. It has taught me a lot about the world and I hope that one day I can help alleviate the awful situation of drink driving in developing countries.
International Student Placement - Hanoi, Vietnam, 2007
Helen Stephens
During September 2007 a fellow student and I embarked on a cultural public health experience to Hanoi, Vietnam. Based at the Hanoi School of Public Health (HSPH) we were placed with an amazing project team, undertaking a mental health promotion project in secondary schools. We attended project meetings, visited the schools and joined in on group consultation (with the help of a very patient team member translating!).
We were also fortunate to gain insight into other areas of public health during our placement. This included:
• Visiting a HIV/AIDS Hospital and Treatment Centre.
• Participating in a motorbike rally with the HSPH students to promote the new helmet wearing policy.
• Seeing occupational health and safety issues first hand.
• Visibly understanding the complexity behind culture and how vital it is to implement a culturally appropriate program.
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| Hang Be Street outside the hotel | Terraced rice fields of Spada | Preparing to present the project baseline data at Ta Thanh Oai Secondary School |
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| HIV AIDS Hospital and Treatment Centre in Hai Duong Province | Preparing for the motorbike rally | Outside the Hanoi School of Public Health |
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| Opening ceremony of new school year at Chu Van An Secondary School | View of Halong Bay from a cave |
The entire placement was like an awesome ‘learning’ holiday and unforgettable experience. We built ongoing friendships, learnt how to cross the road amongst chaotic traffic of motorbikes and scooters and had a laugh trying to learn Vietnamese (I now have ‘hello’ and ‘thank-you’ down pat!) Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum, a relaxing cruise at Halong Bay, and a two-day adventure trek in the rain around Sapa in the terraced rice fields were also highlights of the trip.
This experience is one that I will always be grateful of and has deepened my passion to work in public health, particularly in developing countries. -Helen Stephens
For Further Information contact Linda Murray, Senior Research Assistant, email: linda.murray@qut.edu.au or ph: +61(0) 7 3138 5894