- FLUORO
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- April 2026
April 2026
Better late than never!
GRACE R. and JACQUES F.C. FLUORO
April 30, 2026
April 2026
So… last month, global conflict was driving up cost of living and putting financial pressure on just about everyone.
What did this month bring you ask?
Funding has been pulled for the Tertiary Health Student Subsidy (THSS) grants starting next year.
That’s right! Medical students in NSW are effectively $8,000–$12,000 poorer as of January 2027.
Not ideal, especially given we’ve been pretty vocal about placement poverty for a while now.
Because nothing supports a future healthcare workforce quite like asking students to self fund their way through full-time placements when they are already struggling.
Before anyone panics, don’t drop out just yet.
We are reaching out to IndoMie to see if they’ll sponsor us so we can eat next year!
No but in all seriousness these issues do impact lots of students and if you are passionate about these problems, CHARMS, NSWMSC, and AMSA are a great place to help with advocating for the difficulties medical students face!
Not currently a sponsor
Don’t forget to sign the AMSA/David Pocock End Placement Poverty Petition!
This Month’s Edition Contains…
Harvey’s Slay Update - Praise our King - leading from the front as always
AMC Report Card is in!
Kaitlyn’s Corner - An update from our Events Queen on her time out at Riverina RCS
Good News for our Cardiology Club!
Will’s Wisdom - Our VP, quietly carrying, constantly delivering… genuinely such a weapon
CHARMS Events! Wellbeing Week and The CHARMS Medicine Ball 2026
What is happening with NSWMSC and AMSA Events?!
If you have a story for us and would like to contribute to the next newsletter, please reach out to either of us (Grace Ross) or (Jacques Fletcher-Cauchi) via messenger, or send an email:
NOTE: Sign up to receive FLUORO in your email! Also please send us stories of how you are going, we love to see and hear it all.
CHARMS President Address - Harvey Lew
G’day beautiful people,
I hope everyone had a beautiful Easter and managed to spend some proper time off with family and friends, and a bit of space away from the usual pace of medicine. Hopefully you’re coming back feeling a little more rested as we move further into the semester.
It’s also starting to properly feel like winter is on the way (or already here, depending where you are), and honestly, how good is it. Cooler mornings, jumpers coming back out, and a bit of a shift in pace that feels very welcome after the long stretch of heat.
A few key updates for April. The AMC report is now available and attached. If you’re at all curious about the outcomes of the survey and what was fed back from students across the program, I’d strongly encourage you to have a read through. There was a strong response this year, and it provides a really valuable snapshot of where things are at and where improvements can continue to be made.
To our Year 2 students, I hope you all had a great time on your recent placement. It’s a big step into the clinical environment, and hopefully something you found both challenging and rewarding in equal measure. These early experiences really do set the tone for what’s ahead.
Don’t forget to get involved with Wellbeing Week events as well! Each RCS representative is planning an event or activity for our clinical students, and Mia (CHARMS Wellbeing Officer) together with our amazing Events team Rand and Kaitlyn, have prepared a great list of events for Y1/2 starting week of 4th May!
As we head into the next stretch of the term, things do tend to pick up again. Try to stay steady, keep on top of things where you can, and don’t forget to make use of the people around you. Whether that’s your mates, your clinical teams, or the broader support available, you’re not doing this alone.
That’s all for now. Take care of yourselves, and take care of each other.
Chat soon,
H <3
The AMC Report Has Been Submitted!
If you are keen to see the final product, please have a read through! The CHARMS team have worked very hard collating everyone’s responses. And a very big thank you to everyone who filled in the survey! Another strong year of responses I hear ;)
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Year 2 Riverina Placement Insights - Kaitlyn
During my second-year medical placement at West Wyalong (Riverina Clinical School), I experienced firsthand the rewards of training in a rural town. West Wyalong has such a welcoming, tight-knit community where patients are known beyond their conditions, making clinical encounters more personal and meaningful. The relaxed pace and strong sense of community create an ideal learning environment, with greater hands-on opportunities and continuity of care. Outside the clinic, the town’s friendly atmosphere and regional charm make it an enjoyable place to learn. This placement has highlighted the unique benefits of rural medicine and strengthened my interest in pursuing it further.
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Atrial Fibrillation Be Gone! - They are calling it the tiny heart transplant (Cute)
Have a read below!
Year 3 Orange Placement Insights - Will!
As Year 3 students begin their clinical placements, the transition from classroom learning to real-world medicine marks an exciting and formative stage of training. My own placement experience has been both challenging and highly rewarding, providing valuable insight into patient care, clinical reasoning, and the importance of effective teamwork. During my so far limited time at Orange Base Hospital, I have had the opportunity to work closely with both the general medicine and surgical teams. This helped me develop practical skills in patient assessment, ward-based management, and perioperative care, while gaining an appreciation for the different approaches and decision-making processes across specialties. A highlight from this experience would be assisting with the orthopaedic theatre lists! This hands-on exposure has helped me grasp anatomical principles to a much greater depth than previously understood.
Another highlight of my placement was my time at the hyperbaric unit in Hobart, where I was exposed to the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in managing conditions such as decompression sickness and chronic wound healing. This unique experience not only deepened my understanding of applied physiology but also reinforced the value of multidisciplinary care in achieving optimal patient outcomes. Overall, these experiences have been excellent in shaping my confidence and enthusiasm as I continue my journey through clinical placement.
For those curious on what a hyperbaric chamber looks like, I have googled it!
Its giving cryosleep
 On my way to the moon |  NASA are funding me to live there :D |
CHARMS Events
Wellbeing Week Semester 1 - Orange, NSW (4th of May - 8th of May)
Details below!
Clinical Students! - Reach out to your SODA Rep’s! CHARMS have given each RCS money ;)
The organisation of the CHARMS Medicine Ball 2026 is well underway!
Save the Date: 1st August 2026
NEW VENUE: Orange Ex Services’ Club - Coral Sea Room
Theme: Elegant Evening Attire - A Night of Fantasia
AMSA Events!
Rural Health Symposium - Armidale: https://amsa.org.au/calendar/rural-health-summit-2026/
AMSA National Convention 26’ - https://adl26.adl26.org.au/adl26-australian-registration/
NSWMSC Events!
Emergency Medical Challenge / Sports Day / Social Night
Tickets are $10/pp or $40 when you sign up as a team of 6!
Minimum of 2 pre-clinical students per team!
Great prep for AMSA Convention!
Great to socialise with medical students from other universities!
Saturday, 20th June 2026
Follow their socials to stay up to date!
Instagram: @nswmsc
Facebook: NSW Medical Students’ Council
What is Happening in the Regions?!
There are some pretty cool events on in all areas so check out yours below ;)
ORANGE
BATHURST
PARKES
COFFS HARBOUR
PORT MACQUARIE
WAGGA WAGGA
GRIFFITH
ALBURY/WODONGA
SWAN HILL
Some events require tickets, so make sure you double-check before accidentally donating your money to something you didn’t plan on attending.
Rural Doctors Network Conferences and Events for 2026!
Here is the link for RDNs website! Highly recommend signing up to their newsletter: https://www.ruraldoctors.org/site/index.cfm?module=news&pagemode=indiv&page_id=4432295
Events for 2026
GP VMO Conference - 2-3 May, Canowindra
Breakfast with Gary Webinar - 14 May, online
PESCI Preparation Workshop - 14 May*, Sydney
ADHD Masterclass - 28 May, Sydney
Obstetrics Procedural Conference - 29-30 May, RDN Office & Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards
ALS 1 - 17 June*, Batemans Bay
New GP Orientation Workshop - 18-19 June*, Batemans Bay
Rural Allied Health Conference - 27 November*, Sydney and online
ALS 2 - 25-26 November, Sydney
Rural GPs Conference - 26-28 November, Sydney
Medical Student Rural Inspiration Conference - 28 November, Sydney
*Date subject to confirmation
Opportunities
Tertiary Health Study Subsidies - Currently Final Year Offering!
2026 applications open in late Jan for up to $12k if you’re considering clinical marshmallow roles with NSW Health once you’re finished studying (First Years!!! and Final Years!!!)
You can register to be notified when applications open here
MedWorld Scholarship
This one isn’t open yet but again you can sign up to be notified when apps open here
Looks to me to be $10k, with open voting for recipient
Click the link above to be taken to Orange360, for all things happening in Orange! There are some cool events brewing about 😉
Until next time beautiful people!
Grace and Jacques x