In March and April SQRH signed Memorandum of Understanding documents with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Community Health Limited (CWAATSICH) to provide increased opportunities for nursing, midwifery and allied health students to take up placements.

SQRH Director Associate Professor Geoff Argus said the MOU signings represented a key development in bringing diversity and rural experience for nursing, midwifery and allied health students.

“We have developed very strong relationships with both RFDS and CWAATSICH and gaining formal recognition of this helps us ensure ongoing benefits for students,” he said.

RFDS (Queensland Section) Head of Clinical Governance Trent Dean said RFDS is always keen to support the next generation of rural health staff and recognised the importance of building teams with extensive rural and remote healthcare skills.

“RFDS has provided student placements for many years but the MOU with SQRH means we are now sharing resources to better educate emerging rural health professionals,” he said.

CWAATSICH CEO Sheryl Lawton said CWAATSICH had always been proactive in taking health students for placements and felt strongly that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services play an important role in training rural health professionals.

“The MOU with SQRH outlines our agreed activities and means that we can help nursing, midwifery and allied health students to better understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health service delivery,” she said.