SHARP
University of Wollongong, NSW 2010 has been an awesome year for SHARP, with our members getting up to some inspiring rural health work! We have been busy and as always SHARPies have been having too much fun in the process of promoting a healthier rural Australia and encouraging the future rural health workforce. The year began with SHARP’s launch party – The Bush Dance. SHARPies young and old boot scooted all night long! In February, SHARP said welcome to the new cohort of Medical students with a BBQ and fun times at med camp. Our AGM was held in March which gave us a sparkly new committee that were keen as mustard to make 2010 a blast. The ‘Hills Hoist Series – stories from our own backyard’ continued this year, following great success in 2009. These series of lectures are a collaboration between SHARP and the university’s global health club, WUHOW. Speakers in 2010 have been: Jenny Lane, Dr Philippa Binns and our very own medical students whom recently participated in humanitarian work in Vanuatu. Professor Noel Tait will be sharing his experiences later on in the year. Close the Gap day at the University of Wollongong (UOW) was bigger than ever this year! SHARP was overwhelmed by support within the university and community for this imperative campaign securing over
300 signatures. Events were held at Wollongong and Nowra campuses where the Oxfam video was played and SHARPies handed out information about Indigenous health, encouraged people to sign the petition and manned the BBQ. In Wollongong, special guest speaker Garry Simon ‘Jagamarra’ gave an inspirational speech. University and local media covered the event on the day, so a few SHARPies made it into the paper and onto the local TV news! This year SHARP has sent 6 students to 2 different Indigenous festivals, Vibe Alive Moree NSW and Wakakirri Barunga NT. We had an incredible time talking to rural and remote kids about health and health careers. Gutsy Gus made a star appearance and by the end of the day almost every child had a finger plastered and their face painted. It was an extraordinary experience for all involved and one that they will draw upon during their health careers. We SHARP sent a record 15 members to NURHC. Although robbed of the Golden Windmills trophy (again) SHARP members definitely made their mark on the conference. Meeting like minded students from all across Australia in such a beautiful part of the world like Alice Springs made our SHARPies even more inspired to help the Australian rural and remote population. The speakers at NURHC were second to none and having Ernie Dingo as MC really epitomised the rural health passion attendees.
Written by: Emma Harvey In August, SHARP supplied student volunteers to a Healthier Illawarra Men event entitled ‘Check It’. The event encouraged men to come to the Wollongong Entertainment Centre and get a free mini health check. SHARP students assisted local health professionals by taking blood pressures, measuring blood cholesterol and calculating BMIs. The day was a great chance for students to build relationships with local health professionals, practice some clinical skills and bond with the wider Illawarra community. Other events that SHARP has been apart of this year include: UniCentre Cup, UOW Diversity Week Celebrations, UOW Student Experience Projects Showcase and a Health Careers Expo for Illawarra High School Students at Wollongong Hospital. Furthermore, back in April, SHARP and UOW were proud to host the first National Rural Leadership Development Seminar (NRLDS) in Wollongong. This event was a great success and we hope to see NRLDS happen again, bigger and better in 2011. The rest of 2010 is jam packed full of more rural health fun. SHARP is looking to finish the year off in style by sending students to RAW, Rural Health Harbour Cruise in Sydney and having a party of our own around Christmas time.