Australian student nurses placed in Tonga [1]
Tuesday, August 7, 2018 - 12:03. Updated on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 - 13:22.
Student nurses from the University of Sydney and the University of Canberra are undertaking professional placements at Vaiola Hospital and village clinics in Tonga as part of Australia’s New Colombo Plan.
The Plan aims to broaden Australian undergraduate student’s knowledge of the Indo-Pacific by enabling them to study and undertake internships in various fields such as nursing in the region.
Currently, a group of midwifery and nutrition student nurses from the University of Canberra are undertaking their placements alongside Tongan counterparts at Vaiola Hospital and village clinics.
The nursing students are using the opportunity to share and enchance their professional knowledge and skills and also gain invaluable insights into the Tongan culture and healthcare practice.
Recently, a few groups of nursing students completed a two-week placement and shared their thoughts on their experiences.
Joanne Mendes, from the University of Sydney, said she was able to fulfil her future goal of working in Tonga and hoped to return.
"I hope one day to come to Tonga as a volunteer, but the New Colombo Plan has enabled me to come here much earlier in my career than would otherwise have been the case."
Rhys Hardy, a nursing student from the University of Canberra, said both the local nurses and overseas students learned from each other.
"I thought we would be coming here to help, but actually it was us who were helped in lots of different ways," she said. "The local nurses really appreciate the opportunity to interact with students who come under the New Colombo Plan."
Another student from the University of Canberra, Olympia Muir-Williams, said she was “really impressed by how resourceful the local nurses are” and inspired by their commitment and professionalism given the limited resources they work with.
"I gained lots of knowledge I will take home with me and use throughout my career."