Like most third-year medical students, Ethan McGucken is ready for a break. His exams at Monash Rural Health Mildura are wrapping up after another year of intensive and practical learning.
But the 20-year-old hasn't just been studying this year. He's also been working on the weekends in an aged care home.
"It's unlike other jobs where I've worked before," he said.
"I've worked in retail and in hospo and you get to chat to lots of different people, but you never really get to know them."
He's part of new program at Monash University's medical faculty in Mildura that has seen three third-year students work part-time in a nursing home — but not in any medical capacity.
For a few days a week they've been working as personal care assistants, the vital staff that do everything required to look after aged care residents, from assisting with meals to bathing them and helping them go to the toilet.
"It's been really awesome to have the experience outside of just the medical perspective," Mr McGucken said.
The third-year medical student has already observed the treatment of older Australians in hospital. But this semester he's been getting to know residents where they live.
"Yeah, I'm helping them with tasks, but … I get to talk to them, I get to know their stories," he said.
"They're not patients. They are people and I'm in their home and so it's really nice to have that perspective."
Understanding the person behind the condition
Monash Rural Health regularly places students in aged care homes, but usually for a limited time. And students typically shadow doctors to observe their interaction with residents.
Having medical students work regular shifts as personal care assistants was an intentional choice, said Louise Hodgetts, project coordinator at Monash Rural Health.
"They might see elderly patients in a hospital environment, but that's completely different to what they'll be seeing now," she said.
"It helps the students understand that there's a person behind the condition … it really just gives them an understanding of what these patients have to have to go through."
Mr McGucken's shifts are on weekends to accommodate a full load of classes and studying during the week.
He works in a wing of Princes Court Homes where many residents live with cognitive impairment. But seeing them week after week, he's been able to make connections.
One of the home's residents, Val Chester, said she enjoyed getting to know the students.
"We can have a good laugh, and we can have a chat," she said.
Mr McGucken is also discovering the more intangible skills exercised by personal care assistants in aged care, such as learning what residents want or need when they can't always verbalise it.
On the day the ABC accompanied him, Mr McGucken spent some time with one resident who was clearly uncomfortable and experiencing discomfort in his hands.
"I know you're feeling stiff. But you're safe, you're in the chair," he told him.
That kind of experience is invaluable for future doctors, according to the managers of the aged care home where Mr McGucken worked this semester.
"For the students, it's a really fantastic opportunity for them to get to understand how to interact with some of the older people," said Jenny Garonne, the chief executive of Princes Court Homes in Mildura.
"It's good for them … to get an understanding that they are a whole person that they're dealing with, and hopefully they'll take that back into their practices."
Ms Garonne called the program a win-win.
"It's fantastic for the residents because [they] are really enjoying that interaction with the students," she said.
More students expected to sign up
Monash Rural Health had hoped more medical students would already be working part-time in aged care, but plans were delayed by the COVID pandemic.
Now that lockdowns in aged care have eased, more medical students are expected to follow this first cohort into part-time work.
"Definitely there'll be more students involved, especially when word of mouth gets around that this is an opportunity here," Ms Hodgetts said.
Ethan McGucken agrees. He believes the more medical students learn about this, the more who will sign up for nursing home shifts.
"I think for the students coming in, there are so many people who are really enthusiastic to do this sort of work," he said.
"Once we know as medical students that we can do this work and we can do it safely, then I think so many other students will rush to take up this opportunity."
After all, he says, it's a chance to earn some extra money in workplace that understands the demands on medical students.
All with the benefit of gaining experience they'll use throughout their medical careers.
