Activities

So how does one conduct a RHSV with twenty well-prepared year 11 and 12 students one hour and then twenty grade 4 to year 8 Aboriginal students with English as their second language the next? Is there a one-size-fits-all program outline?

The workshops are the most visible part of your program. They will contain a range of information that will be of interest to a potential health student and you will need to plan the balance between content aspects, the sequence of content and decide how much time is spent on each area.

Your role is to facilitate an active process of learning and knowledge sharing and inspire students (who are sometimes quite uninterested initially!) to consider a career in health. Not surprisingly, students attend with different expectations. Some will want to pick your brains about the ins and outs of a particular course, others will just want to know what it is like to live away from home. Look at interesting ways to increase the participation of the range of students in attendance. Involving students in a group situation requires a good level of interpersonal communication skills and clubs should encourage participation in professional development opportunities to increase members' knowledge and skills. The group wants to hear about YOU as a university student and as a person who has made the transition from school to health study.

i Remember you are there to promote ANY career in health, not just the one you are studying – health is multidisciplinary!

A couple of general points:

We are trying to show how interesting the courses we do are. If you’re a bit disoriented at this point in time with what you do, try not to portray that.
It is not a lesson, that is what will make them remember it. The best visits are the ones that have been really interactive and fun – the students pick that up and they enjoy it too!!
Try not to lose your temper. The occasional kid will be disruptive, but just remember you’ll be gone in an hour! Don’t let them ruin it for everyone.
The format is extremely flexible and all facilitators must be willing to be flexible within the workshop, depending on the ages, demands, knowledge and engagement of the school students.

i At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if everything doesn’t go to plan. If the kids have had fun, can see that you love what you do (ie. Studying a health degree), and have been involved in the workshop, you have done your job!

Visit Outline

Here is an outline of how best to conduct a RHSV:

Example Outline

It contains a suggested time guide, which can be lengthened depending on how much time you have available. Ideally, a RHSV should take no less than 1 hour in order to allow students time to interact, ask questions and gain an understanding of health and health careers. Here are some activity examples that can be used during the visit:

Visit Presentation

Here is an example presentation that RAHMS Rural Health Club use at their visits. This presentation has been put together by Matthew Irwin. Please email us if you would like the powerpoint version of this presentation.

Presentation

RHSV Video - Central NT

Check out the NRHSN RHSV to Central NT video by clicking on the below links to see an example of how a RHSV can be run. There are many different ways in which a RHSV can be run and we encourage RHCs to find what works best for them.

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.

PART 1
PART 2
PART 3