RHAC Newsletter: Healthy Bites Jan-Mar 2010 - School of Rural ...

Fran Smullen
Page 4
New Staff Profile 4… Fran Smullen
Fran is a social worker with
over 20 years experience that
has included extensive and
diverse experience in rural
social work and counselling
practice across a number of
fields including trauma, loss
and grief, sexual assault and
family violence, drug and
alcohol, depression and
anxiety. This work has been
undertaken in mainstream
and Aboriginal community
settings.
She has also been involved
in a number of community
development projects. Most
recently as the Localities
Embracing and Accepting
Diversity (LEAD), Strategic
Planner, a Vic Health Prodiversity
and antidiscriminatory
behaviour
project.
Having lived in the
Shepparton area all her life
she has a comprehensive
knowledge of Shepparton
and surrounding areas. This
includes knowledge of the
background of the rich
diversity of the area.
In her Masters thesis she
sought to identify practical
ways in which mainstream
health/welfare organisations
in Shepparton could increase
their relevance to Aboriginal,
migrants, refugees and
newly arrived community
members.
Community activities that
she has been involved in
outside work has included
membership in a number of
community groups:
Shepparton & District
Reconciliation Group, as cochair
for a number of years;
Shepparton Region Rural
Australians for Refugees
Group, inaugural chair;
Goulburn Valley Social
Workers Group; Social
Justice Sub-committee;
Greater City of Shepparton
Public Health Plan; Sense
of belonging Subcommittee;
Goulburn Valley
Affordable Housing Group,
and the International
Women’s Day Committee.
New Staff Profile 5: Michelle Chart
Michelle Chart
Michelle joined the School of
Rural Health in March in the
role of UDRH Administration
Officer and will be providing
support to Associate
Professor David Pierce, the
Director of the University
Department of Rural Health.
Immediately prior to this
appointment Michelle was
working as the Personal
Assistant to the Head of the
Economics Department
based in Parkville. However
having recently relocated to
Ballarat the daily commute
was proving difficult.
Before joining The University
of Melbourne, Michelle was
employed by Justice Health,
a New South Wales Area
Health Service. This role
primarily involved analysing
Mental Health Review
Tribunal recommendations in
relation to the care, treatment
and detention of Forensic
Mental Health Patients and
making recommendations to
the New South Wales
Minister for Health.
Michelle has also worked in
the Australian Graduate
School of Management at
The University of New
South Wales.
“Moving to Ballarat has
been great and I am really
happy to be working for the
School of Rural Health. It is
good to be working so close
to home and in an area as
lovely as Ballarat,” she said
Casual Staff member: Aimee Howarth
Aimee Howarth
Aimee Howarth has been
part of the School of Rural
Health Team for 3 years.
Aimee has assisted the
medical students as a
volunteer simulated patient
on a regular basis and now
over the past 3 months has
been a temporary worker for
administration and reception.
“I am so lucky to have been
given this opportunity here at
Rural Health,” she said.
Aimee is off to university in
March to further her studies in
a double degree health
sciences/occupational
therapy at La Trobe
Bundoora.
“The experiences and
opportunities have given me
insight into the health field
and also furthered my
knowledge about the health
system and its workings.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed
every minute of working with
such friendly, efficient and
professional colleagues, it
has really been amazing
getting to know you all,” she
said.
Aimee hopes to return to
School Of Rural Health
during holiday breaks as
she would be delighted to
be back on deck helping out
in any possible way.
” My experience here has
been wonderful and I have
learnt so much.”