JCU Nursing students set to strengthen skills in Indonesia

More than 140 James Cook University students will have the opportunity to learn more about the Indo-Pacific region with the university receiving nearly $470,000 in New Colombo Plan (NCP) funding.

JCU students will travel to Cambodia, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Singapore, India, Thailand and Fiji after $468,600 was announced yesterday in the 2017 round of funding.

Overall, for 2016-2019 JCU will receive $1.52 million.

The NCP is a Federal Government initiative in which Australian university students are sent abroad to learn, build friendships and strengthen ties with neighbouring Indo-Pacific countries.

Study options include semester-based learning, teaching practicums, research, field studies and clinical placements.

A group of JCU Nursing students will head to Indonesia - the first time Nursing students have been able to undertake the overseas placements under this plan.

Of the funded projects for 2017, 15 Nursing students will head to Indonesia next year, with another 20 to follow in 2018, and an additional 25 to travel there in 2019.

Dr Karen Yates, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, said it was an exciting opportunity for Nursing students.

“This placement will allow them to work beside nursing and other health care staff, while contributing to a developing community in a meaningful and sustainable way,” Dr Yates said.

“Students will join with local nursing and medical services to deliver supervised nursing services, implement community health promotion strategies for disadvantaged populations in diverse settings.

“This experience will enable students to develop an overview of health care provision and their role as a global citizen.”

A total of 15 Education students will be off to Cambodia, 10 French language students to Vanuatu, 10 Social Work students to India, eight Archaeology students to Thailand, and the largest group - 64 Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Physicians Assistant students  - are off to Fiji.

In addition, 20 Tropical Planning students will travel to Singapore, to work with JCU’s Singapore campus and the National University of Singapore.

JCU’s Mobility Manager from the Division of Global Strategy and Engagement, Linda Rust, said the scheme provides fantastic opportunities for students.

“They will be immersed in the language and culture, and will develop new international networks while gaining valuable work experience,” she said.

Reproduced from https://www.jcu.edu.au/news/releases/2016/september/jcu-nursing-students-set-to-strengthen-skills-in-indonesia