International student at health service

Rural Northwest Health has welcomed a visit from an Amazonian researcher as testimony to its contributions to rural health service models.

PHD student Amandia Sousa spent two days with the Warracknabeal-based service as part of her rural health studies in Australia.

She has a one-year scholarship with Swinburne University and was advised to incorporate a visit to Rural Northwest Health.

Rural Northwest Health people and culture executive manager Kaye Knight said Ms Sousa’s visit was ‘another feather in the cap for her health service’.

She said the recommendation for Ms Sousa to visit the service suggested it was considered influential in rural health.

“That fact that it was suggested to Amandia that she include Rural Northwest Health in her study trip tells us that we are considered a contributor to the models for rural health in both Australia and internationally,” she said.

“It’s something for which we should feel proud.”

Ms Sousa said her two days with the health service involved ‘intense learning’ and she was thankful for the opportunity to ‘enrich’ her knowledge of rural health services. “I had the opportunity to understand how health services function in Warracknabeal and beyond that, I could also visualise their results in the community and learn about their innovative experiences,” she said.

“They were happy to share their experiences with me and made themselves available to me.

“They were also interested to hear about my own experiences in the Brazilian Amazon rural sector.

“I believe that these are moments that enrich our knowledge and bring us new opportunities for reflection and growth.”