SQRH Director Associate Professor Geoff Argus and RFDS (Queensland Section) Head of Clinical Governance Trent Dean were delighted to sign the MOU on March 19 at the SQRH Toowoomba office.

Assoc Prof Argus said the MOU creates a platform to grow an important relationship.

“SQRH supports nursing, midwifery and allied health students in their rural placements and a major focus for us has been to increase student exposure to the many and varied opportunities in rural practice.

“The RFDS provides essential services in the bush and students will gain invaluable experience in the field and at the RFDS Charleville Base,” he said.

Mr Dean said the RFDS was very 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.

The MOU document sets out a number of agreed activities including:

• Provide opportunities for RFDS staff in SQRH facilitated training
• Access to training materials developed by SQRH as identified
• Provide access to SQRH training facilities for shared training activities
• Provide opportunities for student placements for third year nursing/midwifery students and fourth year allied health students
• Provide opportunities for students on placement in Charleville to attend RFDS outreach clinics
• Provide opportunities for students to be involved in RFDS simulation training

Both Assoc Prof Argus and Mr Dean said the collaboration would extend across the fields of research, clinical education and promotional activities.