The Catholic Weekly 19 July 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 6 NEWS 19, July, 2020 Be met on arrival at Melbourne Airport or Southern Cross Station. Personal and caring service. Pre-book before you leave. Baby seat available. English-speaking driver greets you on arrival. » Meet and greet service » Female-friendly and safe » Wheelchair or walking frame-friendly BOOKINGS 1300 139 740 or email [email protected] MELBOURNE? Coming to Your safety is our No.1 priority! PERSONALIZED CABS PUBLISHED 26 JULY 2020 For more details phone Steve on (02) 9390 5404. THE GOOD CHARITIES GUIDE ACU picks up degree Win-win benefits all Students to receive $30,000 per year via Ramsay scholarships IN A first for NSW, a group of 12 final-year medical stu- dents from The University of Notre Dame Australia joined the team at St Vincent’s Hos- pital Sydney to provide sup- port during the coronavirus pandemic. Called Assistants in Med- icine, the program sees stu- dents work two eight-hour shifts a week over the next six months, supporting medical teams across a range of areas from cardiology and neurol- ogy to the emergency depart- ment, general practice and in medical clerical roles.. The idea for the program was set in train earlier this year when the COVID-19 pan- demic began and universities and hospitals began to think of ways medical schools and students could address the need for additional support. The collaboration between the UNDA, the University of New South Wales School of Medicine and St Vincent’s, with the blessing of the NSW IN A sign that interest in de- grees enabling students to study several millennia of the world’s great artists, writ- ers, leaders and thinkers is spreading, Australian Catho- lic University will offer a new Bachelor of Arts (Western Civ- ilisation) degree commencing in 2021. The Ramsay Centre for Western Excellence has com- mitted to fund a partnership with ACU worth more than $50 million over eight years to fund scholarships for high achieving students at Austral- ian Catholic University who will study for the degree. Up to 30 students will be eligible to be supported each year over a period of five years - 150 students in total. Scholarships provide a stellar level of financial sup- port for the average Austral- ian tertiary student, valued at $30,000 a year per student ($90,000 total). The agreement signed off by both bodies in early July- follows a Memorandum of Understanding forged in Feb- ruary. In addition, ACU will be able to hire up to 10 highly qualified new academic staff who will work with the pro- gram director to deliver the core content of the degree and provide academic manage- ment of the program. ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Greg Craven said ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues ¾ ¾ David Ryan Kirsty Fuller and Conor Honeywill at St Vincents.The two are part of a group of 12 final year Medicine students providing support during the coronavirus pandemic. PHOTO: UNDA Department of Heath, creates paid positions for final-year medical students. While the worst case pan- demic scenario has not even- tuated in NSW, the initiative has proceeded, offering stu- dents the opportunity to gain professional experience while completing their studies. Associate Professor Antho- ny Schembri AM, chief exec- utive officer of St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney said he was “thrilled” to welcome the first intake of students. “This program is a win-win for everyone,” he said. the new degree was a perfect fit for a university that had al- ways placed the value of intel- lectual tradition at the centre of its philosophy. The degree will cover a structured and integrated hu- manities curriculum from an- tiquity to the present with an optional honours year. ACU will maintain auton- omy over all key governance arrangements related to the course, and all related activ- ities will be consistent with the university’s position on intellectual and academic freedom. The arrangement also in- cludes funding for an optional international study experi- ence, and an early payment to help offset start-up costs such as relocation and accommo- dation. “We are extremely ap- preciative of Paul Ramsay’s visionary bequest that will benefit a new generation of scholars,” Prof Craven said. “The new roles will pro- vide invaluable support to our busy medical teams, and like- wise the [students] will com- mence their medical careers with a great advantage – but the ultimate beneficiaries will be our community.” Associate Professor Ray Garrick, Head of St Vincent’s and Mater Clinical School said it was great to see the co- operative effort. “Dr Sarah Michael, St Vincent’s Deputy Director of Medical Services (Junior Medical Officers), was hugely thoughtful and always kept the students’ best interests at heart,” he said. Final-year student Kirsty Fuller joined the Emergency Department on 29 June and was keen to gain experience working in a busy hospital en- vironment. Her internship begins in January 2021. “So far, it has been a great experience and the whole ED team are friendly and ap- proachable,” she said. “The added benefit is that we are helping the hospital team with jobs that often slow them down,” she said. Fellow student Conor Hon- eywill is working evening shifts on the wards alongside residents and said his first shift was both “exciting and humbling”. “I think the AIM position will ease the transition from student to doctor, and is a great opportunity to build on the practical skills I will need as an intern next year while helping to reduce the work- load for current doctors,” he said. “This program is a win-win for every- one ... The new roles will provide invaluable support to our busy medical teams, and likewise the [students] will commence their medical careers with a great advan- tage ...” Associate Professor Anthony Schembri AM This partnership and the new degree under- score a whole- sale commit- ment to the humanities which will always be a key priority for this university.” Greg Craven