Clinical Experience
Details of the clinical experience available in at the Rural Clinical School are detailed below:
Phase 2
In 2008 the Phase 2 Programme has the following format:
Society & Health (TP1)
Health Maintenance (TP2)
Beginnings, Growth & Development (TP3)
Aging & Endings (TP4)
The Society and Health programme has been arranged so that Coffs Harbour students can spend a whole week on two occasions at their selected attachment to enable students to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the services and process undertaken in these clinical settings.
In addition biomedical science practical sessions are delivered to students, either at Coffs Harbour or at the Port Macquarie Campus.
Phase 3
Yr 5 of Phase 3 is offered to students for the first time in 2008. Students are placed in small groups of two to four and rotate through Medicine,
Surgery, O&G, Psychiatry, Paediatrics and General Practice terms. Some students will spend four-week periods at the Grafton Base Hospital to complete their Paediatric, Obstetrics and Gynaecology terms. Grafton is about one hour north of Coffs Harbour. It provides very good clinical experience.
Students can also spend some time off campus during the General Practice term as well, if they wish, in such places as Macksville, Bellingen and Dorrigo.
Training is ward and clinic based with students acting as junior members of the clinical team. Opportunities to visit specialist rooms are freely available and such visits are encouraged. Frequent, special clinical skills labs are also available.
Sydney based lecturers visit to continue the biomedical science teaching. Local specialists provide didactic lectures throughout the year. There are also regular Pathology and Radiology tutorials.
For students continuing to Yr6, electives are taken during STP in 2009. Students planning to go overseas for their elective make their arrangements promptly for there are several administrative hurdles to overcome. Selective terms will also be available in Coffs Harbour.
Independent Learning Projects
The Coffs Harbour Rural Clinical School is able to offer Independent Learning Projects at its Campus for either 3rd or 4th year students. Topics are posted on the ILP website but also projects can be negotiated with individual students and can cover a wide range of topics. B Sc Hons students can also be catered for.
Current supervisors are:
Dr Ned Abraham (Research profile)
Senior Lecturer, Coordinator Surgery
Topics: Psychological profile of surgeons, EBM, clinical surgical topics
Dr Gillian Gould (Research profile)
Senior Research Fellow
Topics: Smoking cessation in mainstream and Indigenous communities, refugee health, doctor’s wellbeing
A/Prof Tom Shakespeare (Research profile)
Director of North Coast Cancer Services
Topics: Palliative care, radiation oncology etc
Dr Jo Sutherland
Conjoint Senior Lecturer, Anaesthetist
Topics: Perioperative optimisation and outcomes; labour analgesia; patient information and decision-making
Dr Alan Tankel
Director of A&E, Coffs Harbour Hospital
Topics: Envenomation, referral patterns.
A/Prof Rick Van der Zwan (Research profile)
Department of Psychology Southern Cross University
Topics: Parkinson's Disease - monitoring and rehab; Huntington’s Disease- monitoring and rehab; Neurological disorders - monitoring and rehab; e-health and telehealth strategies and implementations
For more information about Independent Learning Projects please contact Dr. David Amies, Head of Campus, or Dr. Gillian Gould, Senior Research Fellow.
Grants for Parkinson’s disease ILPs
Students should note that there is the potential for a $3000 grant at all of the RCS Campuses for projects on this topic.
Ex Faculty units are available at the Southern Cross University Campus at Coffs Harbour. Students MUST have a letter from the ILP Office (Sydney) attesting that the chosen units are acceptable and appropriate.
For more information about Independent Learning Projects availble please contact, the Campus Coordinator