Reflection goals

Hi everyone,

I am still feel like I am running a marathon with this term. In between work, placement and uni assessments I was finally able to take a day off to spend it at Byron Bay which was amazing.

When I finish my end of term assessments I plan to write reflections on the following experiences I have gained from my placement:

• Training sessions at QuIHN and Biala and the webinars I have been involved in
• Homelessness Connect event
• Outreach Programs
• New Hepatitis C treatment
• New study conducted by UQ on the research and treatment QuIHN has and will complete on the new Hepatitis C treatment
• NSP
• Networking
• Hepatitis B Rapid Testing Project

Unfortunately as the other student that is working on the project with me was ill last week I am unable to start this project until next week as tomorrow I have the homelessness connect event.

I will also be involved in the outreach program QuIHN operates in Redcliffe and Caboolture. I am still unsure about the details but these outreach programs are meant to provide the basic health services that QuIHN offers to individuals in these communities. I am also pushing to have an outreach mobile NSP run regularly for individuals who live in vulnerable ‘small’ communities who may not have access to an NSP. Many NSPs in the outskirts of Brisbane are not used often by the injecting community as the communities are so small it is easy for these individuals to lose their anonymity by attending these clinics.

Hopefully I will have time tomorrow night to post a small reflection on the homelessness connect event.

Michael

 

Weeks 2 to 4 reflection

Hi everyone,

After my first shift I feel that I have not been able to sit back and relax. Every single shift at QuIHN has involved something engaging such as a training session or workshop and my brain of mine is in overdrive!
I have had proper training on Hepatitis C, the new treatment available for HCV, training on overdose and Maloxone (overdose drug for opiods) and also training in the NSP austhorisation. The NSP authorisation involves the proper training required to operate an NSP. We learnt about the operations of the NSP, interventions such as vein care and education of safe injecting and actually learnt how to find a vein and safely inject.
Next week I will finally start my training for my project of the Hepatitis B rapid testing. Hopefully my training will be completed next week for it so I can finally start my project soon. The week after I will be participating in the Homeless Connect event, representing QuIHN and promoting the services available at QuIHN to the community. I will also be able to go around to the other organisations and learn about what services they may offer and possible referral services I can offer to my clients at QuIHN.
Hopefully I will find sometime at the end of this term to go into detail of all my training, the NSP and the various events I will be involved in.
I definitely underestimated how hectic this last year will be.

Oh also, I highly recommend everyone contacts their local NSP clinic/centre and do some volunteer work. It definitely gives you some unique experiences and you will gain special skills in this area.