THE OFFICIAL WUMSS FRESHER GUIDE 2020 1 CONTENTS 4 – President’s Welcome 5 – Indigenous recognition 7 – What to expect 10 – Student perspective- Pepe Misfud (non science background) 11 – Student perspective- Jasmine Pickard (science background) 13 – Message from Phase 1 representatives and Social representatives 15 – Message from International representative and information for international students 20 – Message from Sports Officer 21 – Fitness guide 22 – Message from Academic Representatives 23 – Message from environmental Officer 25 – Message from Health and Wellbeing representative 26 – Moving to the Illawarra/Shoalhaven area: our guide 27- Wollongong 30- Shoalhaven 35- Foodie guide 38- Nightlife 41- Things to do 45- learning resources 47- Our affiliated clubs 2 2019/2020 WUMSS COUNCIL 2019 WUMSS COUNCIL 3 Hi everyone! Firstly I would like to say congratulations! You did it! After a long journey and putting in the hard yards you are officially a student of UOW PRESIDENT’S Graduate Medicine. Welcome to the Wollongong Medical Students’ Society family (also known as WUMSS). WELCOME You may be wondering, what is the purpose of a medical student society? I had the exact same question when I first arrived in Wollongong to pursue medicine. Well, I soon found out that WUMSS is your support system, academic guidance, an avenue for socialising and a family during this new chapter of your life. Our main role is to advocate for and support you, our students. We achieve this in various ways through social events, mentoring programs, academic nights (both assessment specific and interest specific) and professional development. UOW Graduate Medicine creates well-rounded, compassionate doctors who excel as academically and clinically trained interns. Our average cohort size is 80 students which gives students amazing clinical opportunities with small groups during placements and one-on-one mentoring with doctors. This also facilitates a close-knit cohort to spend your next four years with. Medical school is an incredible experience and learning curve with lots of ups and downs along the way. The most important advice I was given which I continue to live by today is ‘work hard and get involved, but also take the time for yourself’. Although sometimes the amount of work feels daunting, keep persevering and ask for help when you need it. You will all begin to realise that it is important to support one another and work as a team. I hope you are all as excited to meet us, as we are to meet you! See you in January! Natasha Dobson WUMSS President 2019/2020 4 4 INDIGENOUS RECOGNITION In Australia there are only 261 identified Aboriginal or Torres A typical Aboriginal family might include mother, father, several Strait Islander doctors from the 85,510 medical practitioners in children, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, a number of Australia. That is less than the amount of students enrolled in our grandparents and several grandchildren. Kinship is an important school at present. Indigenous Doctors are represented by an aspect in Indigenous Australian Culture. There are 3 levels of Australian wide organisation called the Australian Indigenous’ kinship, ‘Moiety, Totem and skin names’. Doctors Association (AIDA). We understand that there are many stereotypes associated with At our university we are fortunate enough to have an AIDA SRC Aboriginal culture, which are displayed within the media member who engages directly with WUMSS and our Indigenous frequently. It is important to recognize that the stereotype is not Representative from the national committee to ensure WUMSS is always the case. The successes of Aboriginal people need to be cultural competent and culturally inclusive. acknowledged such as the successful Indigenous filmmakers, artists, doctors, academics, lawyers, nurses and politicians. This is What is the role of the WUMSS Indigenous Representative? unfortunately often the untold stories of Indigenous Australia. The role of the WUMSS Indigenous representative is to discuss 2. The flags cultural competency, cultural inclusion and any racial concerns The meanings of the Aboriginal flag and the three colours in the within the school. It is also to assist with access to community flag are: involvement as well as discuss curriculum concerns from all Black – represents the Aboriginal people of Australia (This goes students both Indigenous and non-Indigenous in relationship to on top) the delivery of Indigenous health. We understand that everyone Yellow circle – represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector comes from near and far and it’s a very exciting time for Red – represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies everyone, but as UOW takes pride in their relationship to the and Aboriginal peoples’ spiritual relation to the land Indigenous community we thought it was best to give you a brief guide on the culture. The meanings of the Torres Strait Islander flag colours are: Green – represents the land 1. Cultural diversity Black – represents the Indigenous peoples Blue - represents the sea Aboriginal values, beliefs, identity and language are developed White – represents peace and nurtured within the family. Keeping the family strong and healthy, both physically and spiritually, is vitally important to The Dhari represents Torres Strait Islander people and the five- Aboriginal society. Children learn early that to refer to their family pointed star represents the five island groups within the Torres is to refer to the extended family Strait. The star is also a symbol for seafaring people as it is used in navigation 5 5 3. Welcome vs Acknowledgment - What’s a Welcome to Country? 5. Issue of Authenticity: The idea that the ‘real’ Aboriginal people live in Arnhem Land or A Welcome to Country is delivered by an Elder (or another the Central Desert and that only ‘traditional’ Aboriginal peoples appropriate representative from the local Aboriginal and Torres and cultures are ‘really Aboriginal’ is completely inappropriate. Strait Islander communities) and can take the form of a speech or As well as comments such as a performance. “You don’t look Aboriginal” What’s an Acknowledgment of Country? “What percent are you” Acknowledgement of Country can be used exclusively if an Elder “Obviously you aren’t full Aboriginal” or other appropriate member of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities is not available to perform a Welcome to “half-caste” Country. An ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ is a way that all people can show awareness and respect for Aboriginal culture “full-blood” and heritage and the ongoing relationship the traditional owners have with their land. Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people These statements are inappropriate as they have historically been can perform ‘Acknowledgement of Country’. used to oppress Aboriginal peoples according to a racialised system of blood quantums. Until 1972 when the White Australia 4. Terminology Policy was abolished, White Australia excluded Indigenous Australian people by definition. What is the appropriate way to address Indigenous Australians? 6. Appropriate Acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait More Appropriate Terms: Islander Peoples in Writing Written assessments The use of pronouns such as ‘the’, ‘they’, ‘them’, ‘their ‘and Indigenous Australian people (s) ‘those’ cannot be used as substitutes. The use of pronouns is a writing practice that objectifies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Aboriginal People (s) Islander peoples and creates a social distance between you as a student and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Aboriginal person cultures, societies and histories. Torres Strait Islander people (s) In written assessments it is essential to use capital letters for Indigenous, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Less Appropriate Terms: Thank you for taking the time to read this very brief and basic Aborigine guide. If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to email me and arrange a time to meet: [email protected] 6 6 Phase II (12 months): WHAT TO EXPECT In Phase II you begin the full time clinical part of the GM degree. As students, we undertake 7 x 5-week rotations over 12 months including : 2 x Surgery rotations, 2 x Medicine rotations, 1 x OVER THE NEXT FOUR Mental Health rotation, 1x Paediatric rotation and 1 x Obstetrics / Gyneacology rotation. These placements may be in YEARS Wollongong, Shoalhaven or Bowral - but more information about these will be available to you come end of Phase I. You’ve made it - you are going to be a doctor, but before we get started here is a brief overview of what to expect over the next Phase III (12 months): four years: Phase III comprises of a longitudinal (40) week clinical placement in a rural or Phase I (18 months): regional hub in NSW. This is the ‘pre-clinical’ phase and comprises of sessions 1, 2 and 3. In Phase I the majority of the work is taught on campus with Phase IV (6 months): lectures, GOALs, anatomy labs, clinical skills and clinical Phase IV is the last phase, and last 6 months of the GM degree. In placements (explained in more detail later). Phase 1 is divided into Phase IV students will undertake an elective, selective and pre- learning blocks which include: internship (PRINT) term. Introduction to Medicine Cardiovascular-Respiratory Gastrointestinal-Liver and Urogenital-Renal-Genetics-Endocrine Nervous System Musculoskeletal Haematology-Immune Phase I assessments are in the form of Clinical Competencies (8 minutes to complete a task and demonstrate a practical skill), Professional and Personal Development (PPD) Reflections, Research and Critical Analysis. Essays and the End of Year Exam (November 2019). In Phase I, session 3 (first 6 months of your second year) there will also be a Phase 1 OSCE and the End of Phase Exam (May 2020). 7 Once again, congratulations! You are a first year medical student, or a ‘Phase 1’ medical student. We understand that you are probably full of questions regarding the next couple of months and what your first year of medical school going to look like.