August 2025

The med school year can be split into two not by semesters, not by financial year, and not even by lunar phases and the solstice. We now move into the second half of the year, or the time technically known as the med ball post-op period. Thanks chatters for reminding me of the “5W’s of post-op fever" to watch out for:

• Wind POD1-2: first breath of reality, waking up with lungs full of regret dance floor glitter. You may or may not still have your voice.

• Water POD3-5: you desperately need to rehydrate, chug that powerade until you need to go piss girl.

• Wound POD5-7: keep an eye out for the blisters you acquired running through the hail but forgot about in the immediate aftermath. 🤞no psychological wounds acquired.

• Walking POD5+: rest those muscles after breaking it down on the df but make sure to SOOB and mobilise as tolerated, and hope that the grease from those hungover feeds hasn’t clogged up any vessels (don’t @me for this moa).

• Wonder drugs: Here’s hoping that you’ve learnt to never again combine so many, including whatever was in that flask getting around 👀.

And how exciting, first years are out and about on placement! If you haven’t yet make sure to read Bella’s survival guide from last edition. If nothing’s been organised yet don’t be scared to make the first move on your seniors, we love getting asked out and just try and interrupt us once we start giving advice/talking about how much we love our RCS. My big tip would be to not put too much pressure on yourself to do a bunch of study during this time; you’re learning through osmosis (irl) and the days are long. Just appreciate your time and go gently!

Read on for a whole lotta CHARMS love.

As always we are after contributions, including anything from research updates to movie recommendations. If you’re really keen and interested in joining fluoro as an editor (would love someone on the ground in Orange) please email [email protected] 😚 

Yearbook @Year 5

Keep your eyes peeled this week as the team is going to start hunting down content. Start thinking about what you’d like to submit, we’re after anything! But in particular the following:

• headshots: one current and one from year one (can be a silly one)

• a baby photo

• fun photos (but not toooo fun 😇 )

• a song that sums up med school for you

• a crossword question (topics that are fair game include friendship group lore, staff moments, funny memories, weather events, etc., not up for submission is literally anything from our curriculum)

🧡 Hot off the Pres🧡 

Med Ball… GREAT SUCCESS! (read this in Borat’s voice, otherwise this newsletter will make no sense). Hollywood Glamour absolutely delivered (Massive shoutout to our girls Gwen and TJ), the red carpet rolled out, the dance floor lit up, and for one night only we all lived our best movie star lives. Truly a blockbuster.

And what’s a blockbuster without deleted scenes? Med Ball gave us plenty: scandalous make-outs, the great bar queue standoff of 2025, and the eternal question… what exactly was going on in that photo booth? (We have the photo evidence, and it’s… ambiguous). Special shout-out to my partner Jake for committing to the role of “physical comedy” by falling through the backdrop at the very end of the night. Oscar-worthy.

Speaking of awards, yours truly took home the ‘Insider Intellect Award’ (also known as the Gossip Girl Award). Apparently knowing things one shouldn’t is a recognised talent. And yes, while I can confirm there were make-outs last weekend, I’ll leave it to you to decide whether… other activities were happening in the photo booth. All I’ll say is the flashbulbs don’t lie.

Now, onto our next feature film: the Special General Meeting (SGM) on 26th August at 5pm. Harvey and I have been working on the new constitution for six months (It’s been 80 years!) - that’s 84 cups of coffee, 19 breakdowns, many many many gin and tonic’s, and one 42-page Roles & Responsibilities document that could double as a doorstop. Everyone is welcome, so come along, vote, and help shape CHARMS history.

For those not keen on wading through the paperwork (and I don’t blame you), here are the highlights:

• Alumni membership – CHARMS is now a lifelong commitment. Like a Netflix subscription you forgot to cancel.

• Committee restructure – making CHARMS more focused on student advocacy at SRM, state, and national levels. Basically, Avengers Assemble, but instead of Thanos, it’s being left out of the Commonwealth Prac Payment Scheme.

• More student roles – because getting hands-on experience in committee work now gives you the skills to advocate effectively for patients later. Plus, being involved shows leadership, initiative, and commitment; qualities that look great on any CV.

Finally, the serious-but-important storyline: financial wellbeing. We’ve started long chats with SRM about tackling placement poverty and making life easier for students (Specifically in clinical years, but we are of course looking out for our preclinical team as well ❤). If you’ve got ideas, gripes, or solutions - we (alongside SRM) want to hear them. Reach out to your SODA officer at your RCS, or Rand and Boston if you’re a pre-clin student.

CHARMS: part comedy, part drama, part advocacy blockbuster. And don’t forget! I am LIVING for the deleted scenes, and they are here to stay.

XOXO Gossip Girl,

Jacques Fletcher-Cauchi, MDIII, CHARMS President

✨ SGM ✨

You heard about it above, but here’s the official spiel.

This is the official calling notice for a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Charles Sturt University Health and Rural Medical Society (CHARMS):

Date: Tuesday 26th August
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Online

At this meeting, we will be presenting two important documents for consideration and decision:

- Proposed New CHARMS Constitution

- Roles and Responsibilities Document

These have been drafted by Harvey Lew (Vice President) and Jacques Fletcher-Cauchi (President) to align with a new governance structure aimed at making CHARMS more effective, transparent, and representative of its members.

The proposed constitution outlines how CHARMS will be structured, how decisions will be made, and how members’ interests will be represented. The accompanying roles and responsibilities document clearly defines the duties of each committee position under the new structure.

Please take the time to read both documents before the meeting. All discussion and questions will take place during the SGM, and members are invited to attend and will have the opportunity to vote on whether to adopt the new governance arrangements.

Your participation is important — these changes will help shape the future of CHARMS. So reach out if you have any questions!

Opportunities

• Trans health online talk

  • Trans Bodies, Informed Choices: A Conversation on Consent and Care

  • Sept 17th, 12:30-13:30, presented by UNSW

  • More here

• RMA 2025

  • in Boorloo (Perth) in October, sadly often tricky around our exam dates but the speaker lineup looks sick. Full program out now and Early Bird tix extended.

  • Sponsored Future RG Program

  • Student Volunteer Program

• RANZCP PIF Psychiatry of Old Age Conference

  • Nov 12th-14th in Freo

  • Sponsorship? Apply here

What’s On in Orange

• Summer Hill CreekCare

  • Sunday September 14th tree planting

  • Sunday October 26th 21st anniversary celebration!

  • Contact Cilla for more info [email protected]

• East Orange Produce Market

  • Small market of assorted produce very Saturday Morning

  • 148 McLachlan St (tucked in behind Bills Beans)

• Orange Farmers Market

  • 2nd Sat every month

  • Orange Showground Pavillion (check socials for updates though)

  • Recommendations

    • Trunkey Creek Bacon and Egg Rolls

    • Bodhi Garden Deep fried mushroom or sweet potato balls

    • Fourjay Farms Hazelnut Pancake mix

• Orange Society of Model Engineers

  • 2nd Sat every month

  • ride miniature trains through Matthew Park, Moulder St

  • More info here

• Orange Wine Festival

  • Oct 17th - Nov 2nd

  • 40+ different events, with more info to come keep checking here

Complete survey win $$

Research Study Title: Trial of universal approaches to stigma reduction: medical students and health workers in Australia

Researchers at UNSW are conducting a project about the effects of a new type of training on attitudes towards patients. Students enrolled in medical degrees at Australian universities are being invited to take part. Participation in this research is not a requirement of your course, and your decision to or not to take part is voluntary.

A full description of the research activities, prize draw (at three stages: 20 x $125; 20 x $250; 20 x $500), risks associated with these activities and any discomforts that you may experience during research can be found by selecting the following link: https://unsw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9yRrmmuuht4wJRs.

🔦 Spotlight on women’s health innovations

Grace Ross, legend of 4th year recently submitted an awesome (med-related) piece to everyones fave, @cheekmedia. Methinks you can get an idea of the content via the title, but make sure to give it a read, and even consider subscribing. Paying for original content from creators like this is how we can make sure that they stick around; not only to hold a spotlight on the important stuff, but to also hold a mirror to ourselves. But most importantly support our mate! (And if you didn’t know queen Hannah is from the Big O 🍊 ).

Make sure to give it a read here: Glow ups in gynae: celebrating the small wins in the ongoing battle that is women’s health.

Substack is also a great spot to find reflection inspo and cool critiques. Another to check out is @keepingupaperients - check out this piece on making GP sexy again (sorry not sorry if behind a paywall).

Hidden Gems of the Central West