Remote clinical experience defines future career for city student

Third-year occupational therapy student Grace Elliott’s clinical experience placement in Mount Isa has helped confirm her decision to work in a rural and remote location after graduation.

Grace, an Australian Catholic University’s Brisbane Campus student, said her placement with the Department of Education had given her real life experience to what living and working in a rural setting would be like.

Her placement was coordinated by the James Cook University Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health Centre, which delivers rural training experiences for medical, nursing, midwifery, dental and allied health students.

Grace is on a five-week occupational therapy placement based at Mt Isa Central State School, which provides occupational therapy services to 22 state schools in the region.

Citing her personal experience in helping out at the JCU stands at Mount Isa and Cloncurry shows, Grace said getting involved in community events and activities helped students get more out of a placement. She's pictured at the Mount Isa Show.

Her advice to students unsure about doing a remote placement is to give it a go.

“Research the area you’re going to and see what’s on while you’re there and what things you can do or experience.”