Australian Medical Students Enhance Skills in Brunei

Australian Ambassador to Brunei Todd Mercer (5th R) poses for a picture with spouse Orieta Ossio (6th R), RIPAS Hospital’s Associate Professor Dr Elizabeth Chong (5th L), Australian medical students, as well as staff from RIPAS Hospital and the Australian High Commission. Picture: Courtesy of Victor Wong/Australian High Commission

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Saturday, February 7, 2015

RAJA Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital trains Australian medical students every year, the Australian High Commission said.

In a statement issued yesterday, the High Commission said many people do not know Australian undergraduate and postgraduate students undertake clinical placements at RIPAS Hospital.

Associate Professor Dr Elizabeth Chong, consultant neonatalogist at RIPAS Hospital, was quoted as saying that two to 10 Australian students are placed at the hospital every year.

“As a whole, the clinical tutors here find these students engage well with the departments they are attached to,” Dr Chong said.

She added that the Australian students often went into various departments at the hospital, including Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Accident & Emergency.

“We hope they take away a good medical experience as well as a taste of a different culture which Brunei has to offer. It is encouraging when they tell us they would recommend a Brunei placement to their medical school friends,” she further said.

Australian High Commissioner Todd Mercer recently hosted the latest group of five Australian students undertaking clinical placements at RlPAS Hospital and their supervisers, at his residence.

“Brunei and Australia’s close friendship has long been built on the relationships, experiences and cultural understanding that Brunei students have brought home after studying in Australia,” the High Commission said.

It added that the students came from the University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, Flinders University and University of Western Australia. - Amanda Yap

Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei Darussalam and Australia's close friendship has long been built on the relationships, experiences and cultural understanding that Brunei students have brought home after studying in Australia.

What most people do not know however is that Australian students, at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, also regularly travel to Brunei to undertake study and training to further their academic development.

The Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, H.E. Todd Mercer, in conjunction with Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, was pleased to host a group of these students, their supervisors and RIPAS Hospital staff at his residence on February 4. The Australian students are all later-year medical students undertaking clinical placements in Brunei in furtherance of their intended specialisations.

H.E. Todd Mercer noted, "RIPAS Hospital regularly hosts Australian medical students for clinical placements but with their busy schedules and out of sync rotations, it is rare to be able to gather a group together like this.

"They are all very impressive young professionals and worthy ambassadors for the Australian tertiary education sector.

"We usually have between two and 10 Australian students per year come to RIPAS Hospital for their training. As a whole, the clinical tutors here find these students engage well with the departments they are attached to.

"Students go to paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, general surgery, ENT, and accident & emergency, to name a few. We hope they take away a good medical experience as well as a taste of a different culture which Brunei has to offer. It is encouraging when they tell us they would recommend a Brunei placement to their medical school friends," said Associate Professor Dr. Elizabeth Chong.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin