>What is a RHSV?

What is a RHSV?

Rural High School Visits (RHSVs) are an integral and rewarding operation of Rural Health Clubs (RHCs) that can achieve so much in such a limited amount of time. RHSVs undoubtedly play a significant role in addressing Australia’s rural and remote health workforce shortages. They are a unique chance for Rural Health Clubs to inspire rural and remote youngsters and attract them to the wonders of the healthcare profession.

The NRHSN is proud of its RHSV program and it is recognised as a national-leader in delivering health and education related information to high school students. However, there are always areas that can be improved upon and this kit has been redeveloped from a previous NRHSN RHSV package to reflect the changing needs of RHCs and rural high school students.

The aims of the RHSV program for a university student who is undertaking a visit are:

To help increase your passion for your health career
To increase your knowledge of rural communities health, education and Indigenous health
To help improve or add to you skills for working in a rural community
To provide you with opportunities to make valuable connections with health workers in the rural communities that you visit
To have fun!

The RHSV program has been developed to encourage students in a rural area to enter tertiary education as research has shown that rural students are more likely to return to their ‘hometown’ communities to live and work when they finish their studies.

The RHSV program is mainly targeted towards secondary school aged children as research has shown that this is when most students will be considering their educational and career future. Most studies have highlighted that Years 8, 9 and 10 are best for promoting a health career and education because Year 11 and 12 students may have already dropped subjects that are critical to the course that they select.

The RHSV Kit provides Rural Health Club's with user-friendly resources to assist in the planning and delivery of a RHSV program and provides guidelines for achieving the most effective RHSV within a variety of age groups, schools and cultural backgrounds.

The RHSV program resources include the RHSV Kit, an electronic version of the Kit, this website, a quick reference guide and information brochure.

This website has been set up with different sections for Rural Health Club Members, High Schools, High School students and parents of High School students. So hopefully you will find what you are looking for!

Click here to download the RHSV brochure.

RHSV Video - Central NT

Check out the NRHSN RHSV to Central NT video by clicking on the below links. This video follows a group of multi-disciplinary NRHSN members on their RHSV through Central Northern Territory, in May 2008. The NRHSN thanks Tamara Ford (WILDFIRE) for filming and editing the video, the members involved in the RHSV and General Practice Network NT (GPNNT) and Melly Lewis for their support and organisation of this RHSV. You can view the videos below or by clicking here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3.

We welcome your comments and feedback on how we at the NRHSN can make the RHSV program bigger and better in the future! So please feel free to email your thoughts through.