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- June 2025
June 2025
Sorry to brag, but year 5 are fast approaching the finish line, and it feels so good! We still have one little exam, possible remediations (MCQ was a doozy but we all struggled right… RIGHT?!), and all of the assessments that we postponed to post-exams to get through. So don’t get carried away with our congratulations to quickly. And if you see us still hollow-eyed and attached to our laptops know that it’s because portfolio continues all the way through to year 5 and beyond grrrr. Or because I’m binging all of the Survivor Australia™ that I missed. Worth celebrating though is intern offers starting to come out in ~17days, but who’s counting 👀.
me after surviving exams (see: tribal council) again
Read on for some reflections from our pres, minute updates, a Vampire Cup wrap, and highlights from Conferences and the-place-so-nice-they-named-it-twice.
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] 😚
me to the remaining EPAs/mini-CEXs
🧡 Hot off the Pres🧡
Hi besties,
It’s the end of June, and for once, things are feeling… suspiciously calm. Exams are over, the snow’s… kind of falling, and no one from SRM has sent a terrifying email. Let’s ride this wave of peace for as long as it lasts.
A standing ovation for our Year 5s, who have officially wrapped up their final med school exams! You’re now just waiting for next year to start getting paid… and for your brain to magically retain every guideline, medication dose, and obscure clinical sign. The vibes are: qualified, sleep-deprived, and dangerously close to power.
Year 1s, you survived your first ever med school exams! Congrats! You’ve now unlocked the rite of passage that is questioning your life choices mid-MCQ and immediately forgetting everything post-exam. You’ve made it, you’re officially One Of Us™.
To our Orange crew – enjoy the light dusting of snow! Not quite enough for a snowman, but definitely enough to dramatically shiver on placement and justify a 4th hot choc of the day.
No major updates from SRM this month. Which means: no unexpected timetable changes (sike), or policy overhauls. We’re calling this a rare and beautiful moment of academic serenity. Hold it close.
MED BALL is ready to launch! The theme is hot, the plans are hotter, and tickets are on sale now~ So, start mentally preparing your outfit, your group photos, and your post-dancefloor recovery plan. It’s going to be a night.
That’s all from me this month. Short, sweet, and stress-free… a bit like how we wish medicine felt.
Stay warm, stay unbothered, and if you’re still recovering from exams go lay on the ground outside (It is a great feeling).
Yours in mild chaos and major vibes,
Jacques, MDIII
one of us
Committee Minutes
Evaluation Committee Meeting 18/06
Notable from this was a discussion on the Intern Numbers debacle for year 5, Harvey our rep has the update from the School - Our joint understanding is that the issue has now been resolved, however we consider it to be important moving into 2026 to ensure the same issue does not occur for the next cohort. The school states that the issue arose from a "communication error" within the Faculty of Science and Health, and as for all of CSU, this was the first time this had happened - which unfortunately left them in a position of troubleshooting which deemed more challenging than intended. The school is understanding of the added stress this provided to students, and is apologetic that it was not able to be handled any faster or smoother. This issue is unlikely to arise again. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Wellbeing Committee Meeting 10/04
CSU Wellbeing Framework is available online. Our School is typically ahead of the corporate jargon in this doc, but if you ever need to make a case this can back you up on the Wellbeing angle. As a group we should be holding the school accountable to this framework (no matter how vague lol).
All RCS should now have updated mental health toolkits and lunch rooms. All student should know how to access EAP. Please let your CSSO, SODA or CHARMS Rep know if you don’t have these.
Wellbeing Committee Meeting 25/06
Unofficial mins from student perspective…
CSU will support student involvement in Schwartz Rounds, online and in person (there will be one on campus in Orange in October).
Still tension around Wellbeing Days in Pre-Clin. Although the survey showed that most students understand how to take them, many are still worried about taking them. CHARMS encourages students to take Wellbeing Days and wants you to remember…
there is no set limit, but staff do monitor individual patterns.
get in your requests ASAP so that emergency processes from other students can be processed quickly.
you don’t have to justify or share the reason, and if you feel pressured to divulge please contact CHARMS.
consider if what you need is actually Special Consideration, and use these when relevant.
monitor your mental health and get to know early signs of burnout so that you can plan accordingly.
encourage your mates to use their wellbeing days!
Pre-clinical students will benefit from the introduction of monthly free days (TBC, seperate from above), to be trialled this semester.
Floated idea of a school directive supporting wellbeing days around med ball for far away clinical schools 🤞.
🩸 AMSA Vampire Cup: CSU Med Gets Bloody Generous 🩸
Vampire cup has officially finished, and I would love to take this opportunity to thank everyone that participated! This year we had record breaking numbers from CSU with 26 people part-taking compared to just 4 last year. Total Donation this year for the “Charles Sturt University (CSU) Doctors of Medicine” is 43, meaning an amazing 129 lives saved!
This year’s we had some amazing sponsors including Orange Tenpin Bowling and Spilt Milk Ice Cream. But most importantly CHARMS has kindly donated 3 x Med Ball tickets to some of our donors which I’m super excited announce go to (drumroll please)…
Will Weidmann
Pheobe Lenehan
Madison Smith.
Finally, I would love to reinforce that just because Vampire Cup has concluded, doesn’t mean it’s too late to donate. Every donation makes a significant impact and it’s a great excuse to have a study break. It you have any questions about the donation process or joining our team please reach out. Check out www.lifeblood.com.au for details to register.
Annie, MDI
🪩 Med Ball
Tickets are now available for the event of the year! Get in quick or set your alarm to secure yours at early bird prices.
Opportunities
RDN Cadetships
$30k spread across your final years of study (longer period for Aboriginal and Torres Strait cadets) plus countless opportunities!
Bound to return of service in rural NSW (certain hospitals only).
Check RDN’s socials for some insight into the program or speak to someone who’s been in the upper years, there’s a lot of us. It is competitive but people have also accepted and then declined, or dropped out of the program later. So worth applying even if you’re still tossing it up.
ACCRM Excellence Awards
PVOGS Women’s Health Conference
July 26-27
Webinar part is free, and submissions are now open
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.
Balint ANZ
Reflective Essay Competition
Cash prizes of $500 up for grabs
More info here, opens in July
NSW Medical Council Essay Prize
Whip up a 1200 word essay on “How does public trust in the healthcare system impact health outcomes and in what ways might your personal or professional behaviours affect this?” and you could nab yourself $1500
Enter here before August 3rd
What’s On in Orange
Courtesy of this month’s reporter on the ground Claire Colton
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 Fire Festival
August 1st-10th, tix now available!
Various free and paid events across Orange, Millthorpe + surrounds
In previous years I’ve attended the: stargazing/bonfire/mulled wine @local vineyard, Viking Feast @ the Oriana, Night markers and music in Millthorpe + more
Orange Wine Festival
Oct 17th - Nov 2nd
40+ different events, with more info to come keep checking here
🐑 From the regions: Riverina 🐑
Somehow, I’ve ended up writing one of these – I’ll admit, reading them is a lot less daunting than writing one! But between attempts to study and loitering in the corners of operating theatres, I’ve managed to pull together something for this edition of the Fluoro newsletter.
The Riverina Clinical School, based in Wagga NSW is thriving – see picture from Google Maps of our new Wagga CSU house! (Yes, I was too lazy to go take my own picture). Located across from the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (WWBH) and dangerously close to an overpriced-but-worth-it café! What more could you want? This is where many of our lectures/tutorials are held and is a great base for personal and group study.
I will not be attempting parking in this tight as lot
A few weeks ago, Mitch (Year 3) and I headed to the Wagga CSU campus to speak at the Three Rivers Department’s Be a Health Hero day – an outreach session for Year 10 students from rural schools such as Wagga, Temora, and Cootamundra. We talked about our paths into medicine, what med school’s really like, and the many ways to get into the field – scholarships, alternate entry pathways, and support systems. It’s always rewarding to help students realise that a career in medicine is genuinely within their reach. Adding in some UCAT jokes and finishing with a Kahoot, of course, I would say the day was pretty successful!
Around campus, the Year 5 students just completed their WWBH internship interviews and are currently sitting their written exams (yikes) while the rest of us in Years 3 and 4 carry on with rotations! I’m currently on my Surgery Rotation and am proud to report I can now scrub in without looking like I fell into the sink.
Even with the frosted windscreens each morning, the Riverina Clinical School is going strong.
coupla Health Heroes™
🍇 Reflections from RGEN25: A Weekend of Connection, Learning and Laughter in the Hunter Valley
In May, I had the pleasure of attending the Rural Generalist Engagement and Networking Conference (RGEN25), hosted in the beautiful Hunter Valley at Rydges Resort Lovedale. As a medical student and proud Rural Doctors Network (RDN) cadet, I was lucky enough to attend alongside some incredible colleagues, including Miki, Antez and Jamil. What followed was a weekend packed with learning, inspiration, and more than a few laughs.
The conference kicked off with a pre-event masterclass, where Antez and I found ourselves roped into the role of model patients for the “Ultrasound at the Point of Care” session. We were scanned, prodded and gelled up under the expert guidance of Jo McCann, President of The Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine. What an incredible teacher she was! It was comforting to see even seasoned GPs struggle a little with FAST scans, a nice reminder that everyone is always learning. Though I must admit, they still handled the probe a lot better than I did... imaging is certainly not my forte. Give me bloodwork any day!
Following this, we headed into the official RGEN opening, with a keynote presentation by Dr Paula Conroy, CEO and founder of Insight Health Advisory. Her talk on the science of self-care struck a real chord. She reminded us that even caregivers need care, and she shared practical ways to protect ourselves from burnout before it takes hold. For students, doctors, and everyone in between, this was a message we all needed to hear.
After a quick break (and scoring some free RACGP hoodies!), we heard from Dr Stephen Murdoch on the importance of teamwork around the patient. Then came the trivia, and what a whirlwind that was. I still have no idea how the game was meant to work, but I know there were party hats, funky glasses (looking good, Miki!), and sweets being tossed across the room. What fun! Also, huge congrats to Antez, who walked away with a lucky door prize filled with Hunter Valley treats!
everyone looking professional +++
The evening wrapped up with drinks and canapés, where we had a chance to mingle with doctors and students from all over. Hearing stories from rural generalists felt like glimpsing into our future, and it looked pretty exciting. The night eventually came to a close, and while a few brave souls were up at sunrise for a chilly morning swim… I most definitely was not one of them. Being a South Coast girl on placement in Orange, I was not about to expose myself to more cold than necessary - I was more than happy to soak up any warmth the Hunter had to offer!
The morning started with a buffet breakfast and some much-needed coffee, before one of our own, Dr Kerrie Stewart, gave her talk on “Partnering with Your Supervisor.” She used movie references to illustrate what good partnerships look like (iconic) and reminded us how valuable strong support networks are in clinical training. We are so lucky to have her at CSU. Kerrie is living proof that you can wear multiple hats. She plays the role of supervisor, HETI leader, regional director, mum, etc., and still maintains balance and joy in your career.
We were then treated to a high-energy talk from Dr Sam Vidler and Kris Larkin from the Hunter Retrieval Unit. The stories they shared about emergency retrieval medicine were seriously impressive. Transporting patients via helicopter from rocky cliff faces? Count me inspired, but not brave enough to do that for a living.
Later in the day, the RDN cadets joined a “Deteriorating Airways” workshop, where we practised airway manoeuvres, intubating and using airway adjuncts. The leaders were very knowledgeable and taught us many tips and tricks of the trade. It was one of those sessions that sticks with you; practical, relevant, and just the right amount of pressure.
The afternoon brought a powerful dose of perspective from Sam Bailey, who shared his incredible journey following a C6/C7 spinal cord injury sustained in a car accident. Despite the life-changing injury, Sam returned to his family’s farm and redefined what was possible: Learning to drive a four-wheel bike, designing a hoist to operate farm machinery, and even taking to the skies in an ultralight aircraft. Now, he’s working toward becoming the first quadriplegic to fly a helicopter.
Sam’s talk was nothing short of extraordinary. His story of resilience, innovation, and unstoppable determination left a deep impression on everyone in the room. He was also joined by his wife, Jenny Bailey, which added a heartfelt touch. A mini love story woven through the inspiration. Truly moving, and not a dry eye in sight
To close out a memorable weekend, we gathered near the pool under twinkling fairy lights for a relaxed conference dinner. Surrounded by new friends and future colleagues, sharing stories over good food and wine, it was the perfect ending to a weekend that reminded me exactly why I chose this path.
RGEN25, thank you for the memories, the mentorship, and the motivation. Rural medicine has a bright future - and I’m so grateful to be a part of it. I highly recommend this conference to anyone interested in rural generalism, it truly is an amazing experience.
Brianna Mead, MDIV
GC baby
PIF Congress
In May, I had an amazing opportunity to attend the RANZCP Congress on the Gold Coast. I received a scholarship through the Psychiatry Interest Forum, which funded my travel and accommodation. I attended alongside 40 other medical students and junior doctors from across Australia and Aotearoa. It was an inspiring week filled with presentations by leading researchers and clinicians from around the world. Topics ranged from updates on established treatments to emerging research like Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy and its evolving role in the Australian context. I also had the chance to attend a controversial debate on the current psychiatry workforce crisis within NSW. But the highlight was meeting kind, like-minded people who are passionate about this field and of course going for swims in the ocean and taking in the ‘culture’ of the Goldie.
I definitely recommend applying for this scholarship and other PIF opportunities as they provide scholarships for multiple psychiatry conferences over the year. It’s a good way to connect with fellow medical students, junior doctors and consultants to get an insight into different career paths in psychiatry and what drew them to it.
Richard Liang - MDV
note to future self: refer all complex psych pts to Dr Liang
Ever feel sick of studying in the same spot every day? Me too! That’s why I occasionally switch it up and head over to Factory Espresso, my personal hidden gem. It is the perfect spot to dive into study mode, with just the right amount of hustle and warmth to keep you focused.
Being a CSU student, remember to bring your student card and ask for the $12.50 roll and coffee deal. The bacon and egg roll is insanely good, and the coffee always hits just right! It’s pretty much my go to for keeping my brain (and my stomach) happy during study sessions. Great vibes, great fuel, and absolutely worth the trip.
who says you actually have to study once you open your laptop
Study Tip
It is a truth universally acknowledged that learning bugs and antibiotics sucks, but is a necessary evil. Sketchy, you could never make me like you, but with a simple instagram follow I have found another way to learn. @Micromatters features bite sized micro info, delivering it straight to your feed or inbox. With research updates, bug profiles and more it’s a colourful way to refresh your thinking, based on Aus eTG. Bless whoever is behind it.
