Caitlin explained, “My placement supervisor provided immense support throughout my experience, connecting me to people within the community outside of my placement to allow me to experience the culture of the place I was living in, as well as setting up as many clinical experiences as were available to maximise my learning opportunities.”

She also explained, “I believe that continuously working to build our knowledge in providing culturally appropriate and person-centred services are a crucial part of our role as healthcare workers.”

At this campus, she received and provided peer support from other students attending placement for various healthcare roles, which allowed her to create new friendships and share learning experiences. Caitlin says she built connections with people that have gifted her knowledge and experience she would never have had the opportunity to otherwise gain.

These connections encouraged her participation in community events, cultural learning and built her understanding of the country she was visiting. 

“The people I met are passionate in teaching their culture, language and ways of life, which are invaluable lessons both in our personal lives and clinical work. Being able to give back to the community through my work after all they have taught me was a very important and rewarding part of my placement”.

"My advice - say ‘yes’ to everything, take up every opportunity that you can both in the workplace and in the community, as there is so much to learn and to experience if you are open to it which WILL mould you into a better person and a better healthcare provider.” 

Caitlin is hoping to return to East Arnhem Land as an employed healthcare worker to continue to give back to the communities that gave her so much. 

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