SLU Students Gain Global Health Insights Through Australia Visit

SLU Students Gain Global Health Insights Through Australia Visit

Saint Louis University students recently took part in a two-week study at the University of Notre Dame Australia, exploring Australia's healthcare and community service sectors.

The visit was part of a partnership between the two universities to deliver interprofessional learning for its nursing and health sciences students.

Hosted by the National School of Health Sciences, the SLU students met with peers from Notre Dame's Occupational Therapy and Exercise and Sport Science programs, sharing perspectives and learning from one another.

They also spent time with academics, researchers and community organizations in Sydney and Perth, gaining valuable firsthand insight into Australia's healthcare system and its support for vulnerable communities.

A key part of the visit was a project undertaken with Ruah Community Services exploring the organization's outreach work with people experiencing homelessness and mental health issues.

Anthony Breitbach, Ph.D., Director of Interprofessional Education at SLU, said the partnership with Notre Dame provided students with meaningful learning experiences that had enriched them both personally and professionally.

"Collaborating with the University of Notre Dame Australia and Ruah Community Services to co-create these interprofessional experiences has produced personal and professional opportunities that go far beyond the classroom and impact the care they provide as future healthcare providers," he said.

The SLU students also had a session with Notre Dame's Institute for Health Research, where they learned about important projects addressing homelessness, public health and health equity.

"The biggest thing that this experience has taught me is that you should always consider somebody's situation before making any kind of treatment recommendation," said Aleyah Martinez, Doisy College of Health Sciences student. "Everybody has a unique situation with challenges to face. It is important to consider what someone else might be going through, especially as a healthcare professional. It is important to consider that everyone's needs are all the same; they're all human needs, it just depends on how challenging it might be to fulfill those needs. As a healthcare professional, it is our responsibility to make sure a patient's needs are met to make sure their quality of life is improved."

Sara Saiki, who took part in the trip, said she was impressed by every person she met.

"In Australia, from Sydney to Fremantle, every individual was dedicated to serving their community and continually striving to improve themselves while doing it," Saiki said. "We met with a university, hospital, and multiple community services that were all working together to care for their community. The connection between different organizations was strong, prioritizing working together rather than independently. Every single one of them was willing to learn from one another to support the populations they serve."

The students also got to experience some Australian culture with visits to local landmarks, including the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House, a trip to Rottnest Island to meet the quokkas and an Australian Football League match between the Fremantle Dockers and Geelong Cats at Optus Stadium.

Notre Dame's Pro Vice Chancellor Innovation and Communities, Julian Smith, said the visit highlighted the value of exposing students to different healthcare systems and approaches to care.

"Experiences like this help students understand healthcare from different perspectives while developing the collaborative skills that are essential for contemporary practice," he said. "Our partnership with Saint Louis University is creating unique opportunities for students from both institutions to learn from one another and gain a deeper understanding of healthcare in a global context."

Next semester, Notre Dame's first cohort of students will travel to Missouri to visit SLU and take part in its world-leading Interprofessional Education program.

"Saint Louis University looks to continue to grow our relationship to benefit both universities," Breitbach said.