Extended Rural Cohort Program - School of Rural Health ...

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SEMESTER 10 & 11 HANDbooK 2011 

Extended Rural 

Cohort Program

Welcome 

Congratulations on being part of an extraordinary and innovative program! 

I hope you will find your time as part of the Northern Victoria Rural Medical 

Education Network Extended Rural Cohort (NVRMEN ERC) exciting, 

challenging, and most of all, rewarding. 

Other Universities, such as Flinders, Harvard and the University of Washington 

have run extended rural clinical education programs, for small numbers of 

students. NVRMEN however, is the first multi-university program that brings 

together expertise from two world-class medical schools, to train 60 students 

per year in such a program. 

Just like developing a space program that sends rockets and people into space, 

we expect there may be a few challenges, and a few ‘course corrections’ 

needed on the way. 

The fantastic part about being involved in an innovative program is that the 

best people who have a sense of adventure (i.e. clinical teachers and students), 

are doing their best to ensure everything works. And of course, where things 

aren’t perfect, we’ll be working hard to make them better. 

And, just like a rocket on course to the moon, we will need your feedback, early 

and often, to ensure those course corrections for a smooth and successful 

flight. 

I look forward to working closely with all of you, as we go on this amazing 

adventure together. 

I know we all share the goal of helping you become outstanding doctors who 

may be future rural doctors (and maybe even academic leaders for rural medical 

education?). 

The future really is yours and I look forward to sharing your experience and 

seeing your success in your NVMEN ERC training. 

Yours most sincerely, 

Professor Dawn DeWitt 

Chair, Rural Health Academic Centre and Clinical Dean 

www.unimelb.edu.au

Contents 

Welcome 

inside front cover 

Same curriculum, different delivery 2 

ERC Community Based Year Hubs and Spokes Matrix 3 

ERC Central Coordination 5 

student services 5 

ERC Network 6 

Key Dates -Semester 10 and 11 8 

The hubs and spokes 9 

shepparton 9 

echuca 11 

wangaratta 13 

mt beauty 14 

yarrawonga 15 

corowa 16 

benalla 19 

mansfield 19 

Guidelines for students 21 

Assessment and examinations 23 

Vocational selective 24 

www.unimelb.edu.au 


1

Same curriculum, different delivery 

Welcome to your community-based training year as part of your Extended Rural 

Cohort (erC) experience. 

A network of enthusiastic regional hospitals and general practices has joined with 

the University of Melbourne to create the Northern Victoria Regional Medical 

Education Network (nvrmen). 

nvrmen is the partnership of rural and regional hospitals (‘hubs’) and general 

practices (‘spokes’) which will be your training homes for the next 12 months. 

You’ll be placed in the community setting, learning through General Practice (gp) 

clinics, in regional and small rural hospitals, with visiting specialists and through 

allied health services. 

Students will learn from experienced, professional teachers in all settings. The 

gp supervisors have been selected because of their educational interest and 

experience, particularly in GP training. Hub educators have been appointed to 

oversee the learning at each Hub. Hub education brings in a range of talent, 

including specialists, GPs, and allied health and professional staff. GP registrars 

also offer peer support in learning. 

The day-to-day clinical curriculum is based upon ‘who walks in, or is, wheeled in 

the door.’ Many studies have shown the powerful nature of this ‘real-life’ learning 

opportunity, for both academic results, and attachment to future rural practice. 

Examinations are the same as in traditional block rotation, and ERC students will 

also complete mock exams at the end of Semester 10. Students will log their 

tasks throughout the year in “U-Prime” a purpose built on-line education platform. 

Students will spend 2 semesters in the one setting. where you will be supported 

in the community by a range of mentors, academic and non-medical. 

The ERC program works collaboratively with peer organisations including Bogong 

gp training, the Department of Health Victoria and Monash University. Program 

evaluation is continually sought and student feedback is valued in future planning. 

Welcome to the ERC and enjoy the experience. 

Dr Peter Keppel, 

Director, Northern Victoria Rural Medical Education Network (nvrmen) 

2 www.unimelb.edu.au

ERC Community Based Year Hubs 

and Spokes 


3

ERC Community Based Year Hubs 

and Spokes 


extendend rural cohort (ERC) 

Central Coordination 

Key staff contacts 

Rural Clinical School, Shepparton Campus 

Y Prof Dawn DeWitt 

Chair, Rural Health Academic Centre 

Phone: (03) 5823 4500 

Email: ddewitt@unimelb.edu.au 

Y Dr Peter Keppel 

Director of NVRMEN 

Phone: (03) 5823 4500 

Mobile: 0417 146 122 

Email: pkeppel@unimelb.edu.au 

Y Di Doyle 

ERC Program Coordinator 

Phone: (03) 5823 4512 

Mobile: 0419 221 482 

Email: ddoyle@unimelb.edu.au 

Y Amanda Di Bella 

Accommodation officer 

Phone: (03) 5823 4504 

Email: adibella@unimelb.edu.au 

See also RCS Handbook and Rural Health 

Accommodation Handbook 

STUDENT SERVICes 

If you require assistance or advice regarding: 

Y Emergency contacts 

Y Wellbeing Services Available to RCS Students 

Y Student Life 

Y Other Useful resources 

please refer to the Rural Clinical School Student 

Handbook. 


5

ERC Network 

easT 

Wangaratta Hub 

Y Acting Hub Educator: Dr. Peter Keppel 

Phone: (03) 58 23 4500 

Mobile: 0417 146 122 

Email: 

pkeppel@unimelb.edu.au 

Y Administration Officer: Debbie Butler 

Phone: (03) 5721 3566 

Email: 

djbutler@unimelb.edu.au 

Benalla Hub 

Y Hub Educator 

Dr. Jennifer Critchley 

Phone: (03) 5823 4500 

Mobile: 0418 577 247 

Email: 

crj@unimelb.edu.au 

Y Administration Officer: Louise Jackson 

Phone: (03) 5823 4500 

Email: 

louisej@unimelb.edu.au 


ERC Network 

wesT 

Shepparton Hub 

Y Acting Hub Educator: Dr. Helen Malcolm 

Phone: (03) 5823 4511 

Email: 

hmalcolm@unimelb.edu.au 

Y ERC Program Coordinator: Di Doyle 

Phone: (03) 5823 4512 

Email: 

ddoyle@unimelb.edu.au 

Y Undergraduate Education 

Coordinator: 

lianne Macqueen 

Phone: (03) 5832 2437 

Email: 

lianne.macqueen@gvhealth.org.au 

Echuca Hub 

Y Hub Educator: 

Dr Sue Harrison 

Phone: (03) 5480 6001 

Mobile: 0428 566 107 

Email: 

sharrison@nishst.com.au 

sharrison@erh.org.au 

Y Administration Officer: Marj Crowe 

Phone: (03) 5485 5492 

Email: 

mcrowe@erh.org.au 


7

Key Dates -Semester 10 and 11 

2011 

July 25 – Aug 5 ERC Intensive Training weeks 1 and 2 (Shepparton) 

Aug 8 

Students commence community based year 

Aug 29 - Sept 2 Specialty Week 

Sept 5 

Students resume in practices 

Dec 2 

Final day in Community Practice 

Dec 5 - 9 Revision Week 

2012 

Feb 6 

Students resume in practices 

June 18 - 29 Students revision 

Note: 

This calendar does not include psychiatry mini block (2 weeks). Dates to be advised. 


The hubs and spokes 

Shepparton Hub 

Shepparton 

Shepparton is a regional city, located two hours north 

of Melbourne. The twin towns of Shepparton and 

Mooroopna have a combined population of 46,000. 

The local economy is centred on irrigation based 

agriculture. Shepparton is surrounded by orchards 

and dairies. Some of the largest food processing 

plants in the world are located in the Goulburn Valley. 

Shepparton is Australia’s busiest inland port (trucking). 

All this means access to great food festivals and 

farmers markets, cheap food via factory outlets, and 

the most multicultural community in regional Victoria. 

For more information about Shepparton visit 

http://www.greatershepparton.com.au/visitors/ 

Shepparton highlights: 

Y Quality fruit and dairy products 

Y Factory outlet centre for Northern Victoria 

Y Wineries including famous regional restaurants 

Y First class cycling facilities 

Y Finalist in the national top ten walking tracks 

Y Arts, drama and music –at Eastbank and Westside 

centres 

Y Biennial National Piano Award competition 

Y Fishing, boating and other water sports on the 

Goulburn, Broken and Murray Rivers and Waranga 

Basin 

Y Nearby historic towns with studios and galleries 

Y Ski fields nearby – Mount Buller and Mount Stirling 

Tips from Shepparton RCS students 

Y Great food and wine via cafes, restaurants, world 

renowned wineries and cheap food via factory 

sales. Indulge in fresh seasonal produce bought 

straight from the farm gate. 

Y Entertainment abounds at the Village Cinema, local 

festivals and farmers markets and the Shepparton 

Art Gallery. 

Y Eastbank is the place for live ballet, comedy, drama, 

music and the home of the Biennial National Piano 

Award Competition. All the regular shopping outlets 

are here – Kmart, Target, Coles, IGA, Big W, Chemist 

Warehouse, along with great clothes shops for 

everyone. 

Y Get fit and keep healthy – use the extensive 

walking, running and bicycle tracks set up around 

Shepparton. 

Y Use one of the local gyms to swim, workout with 

weights or join a class. Play tennis, footy cricket, 

soccer outside or badminton, basketball, indoor 

cricket, indoor soccer, netball and others inside. 

erc general practice clinics 

Y Kialla Medical Clinic 

Shop 21D, 8025 Riverside Plaza 

Goulburn Valley Hwy 

Kialla VIC 3631 

Practice Manager: Kylie Keel 

Phone: (03) 5823 5446 

Email: kylie@mmc.org.au 

GP Supervisors: Dr John Mackellar, Dr David Ball 


9

erc general practice clinics 

Y Lister House Medical Centre 

60 Nixon St 

Shepparton VIC 3630 

Practice Manager: Jenny Sidebottom 

Phone: (03) 5831 2333 

Email: jsidebottom@listerhouse.com.au 

Website: http://www.listerhouse.com.au 

GP Supervisors: Rev Dr Helen Malcolm, 

Dr Graeme Jones, Dr Ursula Russell, 

Dr Glen Russell, Dr David Cory 

Y The University of Melbourne 

Shepparton Medical Centre 

49 Graham Street 


Practice Manager: Maureen Hull 

Phone: (03) 5823 3100 

Email: m.hull@shepmed.unimelb.edu.au 

Website: http://www.shepmed.unimelb.edu.au/ 

GP Supervisors: Dr Solange Adad, Dr Chris 

Harnden, Dr Jane Gall, Dr Derek Wooff, Dr Alan 

Wong 

Y Wyndham House Medical Clinic 

96 Maude Street 


Practice Coordinator: Isobel Fullager 

Phone: (03) 5821 5633 

Email: Isobel.fullager@wyndhamhouseclinic.com.au 

GP Supervisors: Dr John Guymer, Dr Stephen 

Hook, Dr Margie Sanders, Dr Pratap Acharya, Dr 

Simon Sneyd, Dr Shiro Ekanayake, Dr Prashanth 

Narasimhaiah 

Hospital 

Y Goulburn Valley Health 

Graham Street 


Phone: (03) 5832 2322 

Email: enquiry@gvhealth.org.au 

Website: http://www.gvhealth.org.au 

Rural Clinical School, 

Shepparton Campus 

Y University of Melbourne 

49 Graham Street 


Phone: (03) 5823 4500 

Email: srh-info@unimelb.edu.au 

Website: http://www.ruralhealth.unimelb.edu.au/ 

SHeppartON HUB PUBlic TRANSPOrt 

Y Shepparton Bus timetables - http://www. 

shepptransit.com.au/. Phone: (03) 5831 2150 

Y Metlink Rail Service: http://www. 

metlinkmelbourne.com.au/location/view/81 

Y Vline timetable: http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/ 

timetables/shepparton.pdf/shepparton 

Phone: 136 196 


echuca hub 

echuca-moama 

The twin towns of Echuca-Moama are located 

on the Murray River, a two hour drive from 

Melbourne. Echuca was an important staging post 

for the first farming districts in Northern Victoria 

and Southern NSW. Echuca retains much of its 

history and pioneer-era buildings, making it a 

popular tourist destination with a unique Port and 

Paddle steamer fleet and quality eating venues. 

There are also Service clubs on both sides of the 

Murray River, sporting facilities and extensive visitor 

accommodation. The population is 12,400. 

For more information visit 

http://www.echucamoama.com 

Echuca highlights: 

Y Wineries and Restaurants (critically acclaimed 

restaurants) 

Y Cultural activities (Jazz and Blues Festivals, Amateur 

Theatre) 

Y Farmers’ Markets 

Y Adrenalin activities - laser and paint ball, go-karts 

Y Water sports (a centre of waterskiing in Australia) 

Y Houseboat Mecca 

Y History, nature and wildlife 

Y Horse trail-rides 

Y Steam Rally 

ERC GENERAL PRACtiCE CliniCS 

Y Nish Street Medical Centre 

91 Nish Street 

Echuca VIC 3564 

Practice Manager: Sharon Briscoe 

Phone: (03) 5480 6001 

Email: sbriscoe@nishst.com.au 

GP Supervisors: Dr Suzanne Harrison, Dr BK (Bala 

Kumar) Pillai, Dr Peter Nesbitt, Dr Clare Bottcher, Dr 

Samuel Kennedy, Dr Claire Goodman and Dr Fady 

Henry 

Y Martin Street Medical Centre 

1 Martin Street 

Moama NSW 2731 

Practice Manager: Sharon Briscoe 

Phone: (03) 5480 2933 

Email: sbriscoe@nishst.com.au 

GP Supervisors: See Nish Street Medical Centre 


11

Y Rich River Medical Centre 

214 Ogilvie Avenue 


Practice Manager: Dianne Charman 

Phone: (03) 5480 6700 

Email: dcharman@rrhg.com.au 

GP Supervisors: Dr John Quayle, Dr Stewart 

Gough, Dr James Teh, Dr Greg Hay, Dr Haider 

Zenel, Dr John Azzopardi, Dr Adrian Waldron 

hospitals 

Y Echuca Regional Health 

17 Francis Street 


Phone: (03) 5485 5000 

Email: erhexec@erh.org.au 

Website: http://www.erh.org.au 

echuca hub public transport 

Y Vline: http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/timetables/ 

echuca.pdf/echuca. Phone: 136 196 

Y Metlink: http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ 

route/view/1346 


Wangaratta Hub 

Wangaratta 

Wangaratta is a busy regional centre of about 

17,000 people. There are wonderful views of the 

Warby ranges and you’re only one hour from the 

best snowfields in Victoria, which, along with the 

wineries, rivers and great local food, all help you get 

the most out of the country experience. Things to do 

in Wangaratta and surrounding areas include – 

Y Visit surrounding towns such as Beechworth for the 

Brewery, restaurants, lolly shop and honey shop, 

as well as the famous bakery. Rutherglen is the 

place for wineries, Glenrowan for the Ned Kelly 

Museum, Milawa for the Cheese factory and Bright 

is well known for beautiful autumn scenery and its 

proximity to the snowfields. 

Y The Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre attracts 

many world class acts, often at prices cheaper than 

Melbourne 

Y Wangaratta is a big bicycle town and there is a 

group to join, as well as the famous Rail Trail to take 

you around. The Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic 

Centre has a pool, a fully equipped gym and indoor 

basketball and squash courts. There is an Athletic 

Club, tennis clubs, footy, soccer, badminton, 

hockey, netball, cricket and more. 

Y Hiking and camping in the National Parks of the 

region is a very popular pastime and a great way to 

get to know the country. 

Y Gourmet produce and acclaimed wine regions 

close by, for example the Milawa and King Valleys 

Y Nearby ski fields - Mt Hotham, Falls Creek and Mt 

Buffalo 

Y Mountains for bushwalking, fishing, cycling or four 

wheel driving and camping 

Y Wangaratta Festival of Jazz held annually, including 

Youth Jazz Workshops, Master classes and events 

Y Age Good Food guide hat restaurants 

Tips from Wangaratta RCS students 

Y There is a farmers’ market on Sunday mornings, 

great for fresh food, and trash and treasure 

Y The cinema has cheap student nights on Monday 

and Tuesdays 

Y Make an effort to visit Milawa, it’s a pleasant bike 

ride, and you will be rewarded with a visit to the 

cheese factory, bakery, wineries, and the mustard 

and olive shops 

Y Make use of the Op-shops. Wang has heaps and 

you’ll want to stock up for ‘bow-tie Fridays at the 

hospital 

Y During the warmer months, the Sydney and 

Northern beaches on the river are great places for 

a swim and to escape the heat, only five minutes 

from the hospital 

Y Melbourne Cup day at the Wangaratta races – a 

must. 


http://www.visitwangaratta.com.au/ 


13

mt beauty 

Established in 1949 during the construction of the 

Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme, the township of 

Mt. Beauty was developed by the State Electricity 

Commission of Victoria to provide additional 

accommodation for the thousands of workers during 

the construction of the country’s second largest 

hydro electricity scheme. 

This relatively young town, along with the 

surrounding townships of Falls Creek, Bogong, 

Tawonga South and Tawonga, are all part of a 

prospering tourist area with excellent services, 

accommodation, food and a wide range of 

recreational activities available for all ages. 

Enjoy the relaxed country living, friendly locals and 

a number of cafes and vineyards around the area. 

Mount Beauty is a popular base for outdoor activities 

from downhill mountain bike riding for the adrenalin 

seekers, to a peaceful game of golf or you can enjoy 

the tranquil fishing in a clear mountain stream. 

Bogong Alpine Village is a short drive away and 

roughly half way in between Mt Beauty and Falls 

Creek. It is a lovely little holiday village. Like Mount 

Beauty, it has its own pondage for fishing and 

boating. It also has a number of beautiful picnic 

grounds and walks. 

Mt. Beauty is at the base of Falls Creek, Australia’s 

premier alpine village for the ski and snowboard 

enthusiast and in summer you can enjoy 

bushwalking while taking in the views of the Kiewa 

Valley. 

For more information visit: 

http://www.mtbeauty.com/ 


yarrawonga 

Yarrawonga’s major natural attraction is Lake 

Mulwala which was formed by the building of a 

weir across the Murray River in the 1930s. The 

resulting 23 kilometre long lake is a popular location 

for boating, fishing and swimming. A number of 

tourist operators offer cruises on the lake and river 

for visitors. 

Yarrawonga is a popular holiday destination, well 

known for its warm and stable climate and the array 

of festivals held in the area throughout the year. The 

main shopping strip is located along Belmore Street, 

with attractive parks and gardens located at the 

northern end which front onto Lake Mulwala. 

Other attractions in town include the Old Yarra 

Mine Shaft tourist complex, located at the Visitor 

Information Centre and the Tudor House Clock 

Museum. Good views along the Murray River and 

across Lake Mulwala can be enjoyed from the road 

and walkway along the Yarrawonga Weir. There’s 

plenty to do in Yarrawonga. Wineries, art and 

craft galleries, farms, wine, cheese & breweries, 

bushwalking, parks and gardens, markets and retail 

facilities in the district, ggalleries and museums. 


http://www.yarrawongamulwala.com.au/ 


15

Corowa 

Corowa Shire is a prospering rural community 

centrally located on the Murray River in New South 

Wales, between Sydney and Melbourne, within 

easy travelling distance to the rural cities of Albury, 

Wodonga, Wangaratta, Wagga Wagga, Shepparton 

and Canberra. 

Located only 3 hours from Melbourne, 4 hours 

from Canberra and 6 hours from Sydney, with a 

great climate and vibrant atmosphere Corowa is 

an ideal location for people from all walks of life to 

experience exceptional lifestyle and opportunities. 

There are opportunities for camping, bushwalking, 

picnicking, swimming, fishing, canoeing and 

waterskiing all year round. Howlong, Corowa and 

Mulwala all provide the ideal base for day-trips east 

toward Albury-Wodonga, west toward Cobram 

and Echuca, north toward Wagga Wagga and 

the Riverina plains, or south toward Rutherglen, 

Beechworth, Chiltern and Yackandandah. 

Rutherglen Winery is located only 10kms from 

Corowa. There are grass tennis courts and a 

magnificent 27-hole championship golf course. 

Water skiing and fishing events take place regularly 

as well as the grand old Australian iconic annual 

event, the Australian Billy Cart Championships. 

There are football clubs, tennis clubs, as well as 

cricket and netball. All Saints Estate has plenty to 

offer with the Cellar Door for wine buffs, The Terrace 

Restaurant, Indigo Cheese and lots of local history 

and there are other wineries in the district to visit. 


http://www.corowa.nsw.gov.au/visitors/ 


ERC General Practice Clinics 

Y Ovens Medical Group 

70 Ovens Street 

Wangaratta VIC 3677 

Practice Manager: Helen Judd 

Phone: (03) 5721 2176 

Email: hjudd@ovensmedical.com.au 

GP Supervisors: Dr Kate Davey, Dr Steve Bismire, 

Dr Andrew Kingston, Dr Matt Byrne, Dr Gavin 

Frawley, Dr Alex Trail 

Y Mt. Beauty Medical Centre 

PO Box 75 

Mount Beauty VIC 3699 

Practice Manager: Mrs. Patricia Ryder 

Phone: (03) 5754 3400 

Email: enquiries@mbmc.com.au 

Website: http://www.mbmc.com.au/ 

GP Supervisors: Dr Mark Zagorski, Dr Jeff 

Robinson, Dr Skye Delaney, Dr. Elizabeth Garoni 

Y Yarrawonga Dennis Medical Group 

10- 12 Woods Road 

Yarrawonga VIC 3730 

Practice Manager: TBC 

Phone: (03) 5744 1777 

Email: mbruce@denismed.com 

Website: www.yourhealth.net.au/ydmg 

GP Supervisors: Dr Tania Jones, Dr John Emery, Dr 

Murali Ooruthiran and Dr Nigel Murray 

Y Corowa Medical Centre 

61 Guy Street 

Corowa VIC 2646 

Practice Manager: John Law 

Phone: (02) 6033 1211 

Email: corowamed@corowamed.com.au 

Website: www.corowamed.com.au 

GP Supervisors: Dr Michael Love, Dr Sean Geary, 

Dr Antoinette Del Popolo, Dr Daniel McCurdy, Dr 

Bruce Slonim, Dr Heinz Deiter and Dr Mira Kapur 

Hospitals 

Y Northeast Health Wangaratta 

Green Street (PO Box 386 Wangaratta Vic 3676) 


Phone: (03) 5722 0111 

Email: enquiries@nhw.hume.org.au 

Website: http://www.nhw.hume.org.au 

Y Alpine Health Mount Beauty Hospital 

Hollonds Street 

Mt. Beauty VIC 3699 

Phone: (03) 5754 3500 

Fax: (03) 5754 3555 

Email: info@alpine.hume.org.au 

Website: www.alpinehealth.org.au 

Y Yarrawonga District Health Service 

33 Piper Street 

Yarrawonga VIC 3730 

Phone: (03) 5743 8111 

Fax: (03) 57441961 

Email: ruth.clifton@ydhs.hume.org.au 

Website: http://www.humehealth.com.au/browse. 

asp?page=646 


17

Y Corowa Health Service 

Guy Street 

Corowa NSW 2646 

Phone: (02) 6033 7555 

Fax: (02) 6033 3646 

Email: 

Website: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/hospitals/ 

detail.asp 

Y Rural Clinical School, Wangaratta Campus 

University of Melbourne 

‘The Chalet’ 

Docker Street 


Phone: (03) 5721 3566 

Email: srh-info@unimelb.edu.au 

Website: http://www.ruralhealth.unimelb.edu.au/ 

Wangaratta HUB Public Transport 

Wangaratta Transport Services: 

Y V Line offers services from Melbourne (Southern 

Cross station). For detailed information and 

timetables Telephone V/Line on 136 196 or visit 

http://www.vline.com.au 

Y For travel within the hub area visit http://www.vline. 

com.au/timetables/timetables/bus.html 

Y Metlink rail service - http://www.metlinkmelbourne. 

com.au/route/view/1759 

Y Buses operate around Wangaratta, and between 

the town and surrounding areas. For specific 

routes and timetables, please visit the regional bus 

information on VicLink and select from the drop 

down list. 

Y V/Line Coach Lines/Wangaratta Coach Lines 

18-32 Osboldstone Road Wangaratta VIC 

Phone: (03) 5722 1843 

mt beauty Transport Services: 



Y Local Coach service - http://www. 

fallscreekcoachservice.com.au/ 

Y Regional Bus services - http://www.albury.net. 

au/~tim/buslocal.htm 

yarrawonga Transport Services: 

Y Buses operate around Yarrawonga and between the 

town and surrounding areas. For specific routes and 

timetables, please visit the regional bus information 

on VicLink and select from the drop down list. 

Y Metlink Rail service - http://www.metlinkmelbourne. 


corowa Transport Services: 



Y Regional Bus service - http://www.corowa. 

nsw.gov.au/visitors/gettinghere/images/Bus_ 

Timetable_-_2008.pdf 


enalla hub 

Benalla 

The township of Benalla is beautiful, and only a 

two hour drive from Melbourne. With a population 

of 9,000, the town on the lake has a picturesque 

streetscape. 

For more information telephone (03) 5762 1749 and 

visit http://benallaonline.com.au/Content/see-do/ 

attractions/ 

Benalla highlights: 

Y Ski fields close by, Mount Buller and Mount Stirling, 

1.5 hours drive 

Y Wineries and gourmet food regions nearby 

Y A thriving arts community with a number of 

galleries, festivals and performing arts events 

Y Home of famous Australian Surgeon, Sir Weary 

Dunlop 

Y Lake Benalla, Mount Samaria State Park and Reef 

Hills State Park all close by 

Y Sporting facilities, aquatic centre and botanical 

gardens 

Y A centre of Australian hot air ballooning 

Y Winton Raceway (motor sports) 

Y Home to Australia’s most famous bushranger, Ned 

Kelly 

Y Fishing and other water activities 

mansfield 

Situated in the foothills of the Great Dividing 

Range, Mansfield is surrounded by grazing land and 

mountain forests, with the area well-known for its 

stunning scenery. 

The town centre has several historical buildings 

dating back to its days as a stock route camp in the 

1940s and a gold mining service centre beginning in 

the 1850s. Mansfield is very much a tourist town, 

featuring a wide range of accommodation and 

vibrant commercial centre which caters for the many 

visitors who then travel to the ski resorts of Mount 

Buller or Mount Stirling via Merrijig. 

Around 25 kilometres north of Mansfield on the 

Midland Highway is Lake Nillahcootie which is a 

manmade lake built in 1968 on the Broken River and 

used for irrigation. Visitors to the lake enjoy attractive 

picnic grounds, BBQs and a boat ramp, making 

the lake suitable for fishing, swimming and boating 

activities. 

Lake Eildon and its surrounding national park lie 

close to Mansfield, with numerous access points. 

From the thrills of skiing, snowboarding, mountain 

biking, four-wheel driving and horse riding to the 

calmer pace of day spas, fishing, boating on Lake 

Eildon, scenic drives and bushwalking, there is 

something for everyone. 


http://www.mansfieldmtbuller.com.au/ 


19

ERC GENERAL PRACtiCE CliniCS 

Y Benalla Church Street Surgery 

34 Church Street 

Benalla VIC 3672 

Practice Manager: Meryl Jerome 

Phone: (03) 5762 1022 

Email: Meryl@churchstreetsurgery.com.au 

GP Supervisors: Dr Richard de Crespigny, 

Dr Paul Kelly, Dr Peter Slot, Dr Gary O’Brien, 

Dr Brian Hollins, Dr Gerard Brownstein 

Y Central General Practice Mansfield 

38 Highett Street 

Mansfield VIC 3722 

Practice Manager: Christine Leatham 

Phone: (03) 5775 2591 

Email: cgp@sctelco.net.au 

GP Supervisors: Dr Will Twycross, Dr Daniela Friday, 

Dr Stephen Flew and Dr John Hall 

Y Mansfield Medical Clinic 


Mansfield VIC 

Practice Manager: Vicki Martin 

Email: vmartin@mansfieldclinic.com.au 

Website: http://www.mansfieldclinic.com.au/ 

Phone: (03) 5775 2166 

GP Supervisors: Dr Phillip Jolly, Dr Graham Slaney, 

Dr Andrew Wettenhall and Dr Laura Carter 

HospitalS 

Y Benalla and District Memorial Hospital 

45-53 Coster Street (PO Box 406) 

Benalla VIC 3672 

Phone: (03) 5760 2222 

Website: http://www.benallahospital.com.au 

Y Mansfield District Hospital 


PO Box 139 

Mansfield VIC 3722 

Phone: (03) 5775 8800 

Fax: (03) 5775 1352 

Email: reception.main@mdh.org.au 

Website: http://www.mdh.org.au/ 

benalla hub public transport 

Y V Line offers coach and train services to Benalla 

and Mansfield from Melbourne (Southern Cross 

station). For detailed information and time tables 

please call V/Line on 136 196 or visit http://www. 

vline.com.au 



Y Mansfield - Metlink: http://www.metlinkmelbourne. 

com.au/location/view/94 

Y Mansfield buslines: http://www.mmbl.com.au/ 

Y For bus services within Benalla contact 

http://www.benallabuslines.com.au 

Telephone: (03) 5762 6566 


Guidelines for students 

See also the RCS Handbook for Student Charter, Guidelines for Students and School Policies 

PROFESSIONALISM 

There are professional behaviours expected of 

doctors that apply to student doctors as well. 

Patients, fellow students, school staff, General 

Practice and hospital staff all must be treated with 

respect and dignity. 

As part of your professionalism you should treat 

Clinical School like a job, and our expectation is that 

you attend all General Practice, Hub and hospital 

scheduled clinical teaching and learning activities. 

It is very important that you arrive on time and 

therefore manage your transport and other logistics 

to enable this. 

Leave of Absence must be applied for in advance 

in the normal way, through the Rural Clinical School 

(see RCS Handbook or website - http://medicine. 

unimelb.edu.au/assets/pdf/currentmd/forms/mms_ 

sloa_Form_v1.1.pdf 

Your clothing should be neat and clean, without being 

seductive or revealing. You must master the handling 

of strong emotions in your patients, colleagues and 

yourself. Impaired doctors are dangerous for patients. 

Thus, if you are feeling incapable of performing as a 

student, you need to recognise that, and ask for help, 

whether this is for mental or physical health reasons, 

substance abuse or personal reasons. 

Confidentiality 

As with hospital placements, students in small rural 

communities will be told information by patients 

and treating clinicians that may be personally 

sensitive. The opportunities for possible breaches 

of confidentiality are many - reception staff, hospital 

staff and other patients. Students are expected to 

uphold the rights of patients to have their personal 

information kept restricted to the treating clinicians 

and other members of the health team on a “need to 

know” basis. Wilful disregard of these guidelines will 

be viewed very seriously. 

LMS details 

The primary method of communication used by the 

Rural Clinical School for students is LMS. Messages 

will include student announcements about school 

accommodation facilities and non-urgent timetable 

changes. Students are expected to check LMS 

daily. lms will be available to supervisors to allow 

some access to curriculum areas taught by the GP 

supervisors. 

‘UPrime’ 

UPRIME is an online tool where you and your 

supervisors will be required to sign off on learning 

tasks and procedures. Students will receive a log 

in to this program, along with user instructions and 

expectations about how you are expected to use this 

tool. 

STUDENT MILEAGE Claims 

Please refer to Rural Clinical School Handbook for 

detailed information regarding mileage claims. 


21

General information about the 

community-based year 

Discipline/setting 

Throughout the community 

based year 

Women’s Health 

Children’s Health 

Psychiatry 

RAPP 

Emergency 

Rural Health Module 

What ERC students will do 

Y 4 days per fortnight in general practice 

Y 4 days per fortnight timetabled hospital and clinic time 

Y 2 days per fortnight at hub (PBLs, lectures, etc) ‘The Hub Day’ 

Y Regular case presentations and direct observations required 

Y Cases and procedures logged and signed off via online platform, UPrime (training provided) 

Y On-call emergency roster for several disciplines 

Y Mentor meetings with academic and professional community members 

Y Learning opportunities in GP practice environment, aged care facilities and small rural 

hospitals 

Y Semester 12 GP experience is included in the community based year. In semester 12 a 

vocational selective will replace the GP block 

Y Lectures delivered at orientation. Students will be provided with pre-recorded lectures on 

an external hard drive 

Y Students will be on-call on a rostered basis (including after hours and weekends) 

Y PBLs on hub days 

Y Skills experience at orientation, at hubs and in practices 

Y Patient contact in hub hospitals and in general practice 

Y Lectures delivered at orientation. Students will be provided with pre-recorded lectures on 

an external hard drive 

Y PBLs on hub days 

Y Skills experience at orientation, at hubs and in practices 

Y Patient contact in hub hospitals and in general practice 

Y Lectures at orientation and during Specialty Week 

Y In-patient and out-patient Psych ‘mini- block’ (at Shepparton and Wangaratta Hospitals) 

Y PBLs 

Y Lectures at orientation 

Y Some lectures delivered by specialists in Wangaratta and Melbourne 

Y Skills at orientation and on hub days 

Y Students will be on-call on a rostered basis (including after hours and weekends) 

Y ‘Real life’ experiences in general practice environment, and small rural hospitals 

Y The rural experience is incorporated into the community based year (no 3 week RHM 

placement required). 

Y Rural Health Module and Cultural Safety orientation will be provided during the Specialty 

week 

Y The RHM project will be done during the year and presentation and assessment will be 

completed during a hub day. 


Assessment and examinations 

The timetable of assessment as available at the 

time of printing is shown below - this is a draft 

document but major changes are not expected. 

Of major importance is that ERC students will have 

exactly the same examinations and assessments as 

other students - the only difference is in the timing. 

Please note: Contrary to some advice, Intern Marks 

provided by the University of Melbourne to the PMCV 

do not include any component of Semester 10-11, 

being largely based on Semester 8 and 9 rankings. 

Thus ERC students will be at no disadvantage in the 

Intern ranking system. 

Assessment in Semester 10 

GP ‘Rotation’ 

Y mini CEXs x2 done in General Practice OSCE- GP 

cases included in Sem 12 

Y Learning Planner tasks – performed and marked 

off in semester 10/11, submitted with medicine 

and surgery LP tasks in semester 12; see GP 

Student Guide 

Y Supervisor Mark - Examined Sem 11 – pass/fail 


Y seminar presentation 

Y PBLs assessed in Sem 10 and 11 

Y Case commentary 

Y Terminology exam 

Child and Adolescent Health 

Y PBLs assessed in Sem 10 and 11 

Psychiatry 

Y case presentation 

Y Mini Mental State Examination 

Rural Health Module - project presentation 

RAPP- task log 

Psychiatry- task log 

Emergency- procedure log 

Assessment in Semester 11 


Y OSCE 

Y Written exam 

Y Log book 

Child and Adolescent Health 

Y Slide Quiz 

Y Clinical Skills 

Y Written Exam 

Y OSCE 

RAPP 

Y Speciality Health Rotation (SHR) Written Exam 

Y OSCE - SHR 

Emergency 

Y Log Book 

Y SHR Written Exam 

Y OSCE- SHR 

Rural Health Module 

Y – SHR Written Exam 

Y Project presentation if not completed in semester 

10 

Psychiatry 

Y SHR Written Exam 

Y OSCE - SHR 


23

Vocational selective 

The purpose of the “metro” selective is to give ERC 

students an opportunity to have an experience within 

the metropolitan Melbourne system as an “option” 

if they have a special interest, or want to experience 

a particular hospital. It might also be thought of as a 

(metro) selective. In general, it will have to be in a 

non-core area for capacity reasons. 

It takes advantage of the 5-week “gap” that occurs 

since students have already completed GP. 

There is no requirement that it be at a metropolitan 

site per se, but it must be in the Melbourne Medical 

School system and thus is not an “elective”. 


www.unimelb.edu.au


COPYRIGHT 

DISCLAIMER 

STATEMENT ON PRIVACY PolICY 

INTEllECTUAL PROPERTY 

© Copyright University of Melbourne 

2011. Copyright in this publication is 

owned by the University and no part 

of it may be reproduced without the 

permission of the University. 

Published by: Rural Health Academic 

Centre 

Copyright: The University of Melbourne, 

May 2011 

CRICos Provider code: 00116K 

The University has used its best 

endeavours to ensure that material 

contained in this publication was correct 

at the time of printing. The University 

gives no warranty and accepts no 

responsibility for the accuracy or 

completeness of information and the 

University reserves the right to make 

changes without notice at any time in 

its absolute discretion. Users of this 

publication are advised to reconcile the 

accuracy and currency of the information 

provided with the relevant faculty or 

department of the University before 

acting upon or in consideration of the 

information. 

When dealing with personal or health 

information about individuals, the 

University of Melbourne is obliged to 

comply with the Information Privacy Act 

2000 and the Health Records Act 2001. 

For further information refer to: 

www.unimelb.edu.au/unisec/ 

privacypolicy.htm 

For further information refer to: 

www.unimelb.edu.au/Statutes

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