May 2025

Silly season

Author

HEIDI ANNAND
May 26, 2025

May 2025

The weather may be cooling down (or drying out up North 🤞) but study is heating up. Remember to be gentle on yourself during this period. Don’t trick yourself into thinking about exams as the be-all and end-all. They’re important, yeah, but you can have other goals too that aren’t necessarily examinable. Is that to be a happy intern? Is it to be a great team member? Is it to continue being a loving partner and parent during this time? Is it to consistently be in bed by 10pm every night? Whatever it is, we know that you’re going to smash it <3

I am Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and the US team is my exams

It’s also Reconciliation Week so take some time this week to reflect on how you’re actively engaging in reconciliation (especially as an ally), whether professionally or personally. Maybe google what events are on near you, learn a bit more about the country you’re on, brush up on your First Nations specific screening or take on some advocacy burden. Rh+ just held a screening of Take Heart, maybe you could make time to watch that if you haven’t yet. This year’s theme is #BridgingNowtoNext. What can you do now that will contribute to a better future?

Read on for some reflections from our pres, highlights from Port and Parkes, a Vampire Cup update, and to make up for missing a few editions, a whole swathe of Cenny West Hidden Gems.

P.S. @ any first years watching the clinical students talk about their RCS experiences, I just wanted to emphasise that I LOVE being in Swan Hill. WIth the time pressure and wanting to get back to training I may have come across as blunt but I really do love it here and am happy to answer any q’s!!

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] đŸ˜š 

See also: I’m Maddi Levi and the ball is my wellbeing during exam season.

🧡 Hot off the Pres🧡 


Hey CHARMS fam!

It’s that magical time of year again where the highlighters are dry, the coffee is strong, and sleep is just a fond memory. That’s right… exam season is HERE!!!

First years! Your first real med school exams! Welcome to the wild ride! You’ve put in the work, you’ve powered through the lectures, and now it’s your time to shine. We’re backing you all the way – show those multiple choice questions who’s boss! (A quick reminder that you are not defined by a mark in an exam, something the rest of us have learnt along the journey, we love you all ❤).

Second years! It’s the last anatomy exam of your entire degree! (WILD) This is not a drill! After this, you can officially retire from memorising small holes in the skull and weird hand muscles. Honestly, teach me something next year because I’m still out here confused in theatres. (Yes I may have said gastrocnemius instead of gluteus maximus to my gen surg consultant... not a proud moment for me 😃)

Fifth years! FINAL EXAMS!!! You are practically doctors with Wi-Fi at this point. One last showdown and you’ll be off into the big wide world of actual medicine. We’re all cheering you on; loud, proud, and probably a bit jealous.

Third and fourth years! No exams? How nice for us. While the rest of our gang are stress-eating cereal at 1am, I hope you are all enjoying your quiet little placement life. Maybe shout your stressed-out friends a coffee. Or five. (And if we have an exam I am unaware of... please let me know).

And now, for some Convention hype because Will has done an incredible job as our AMSA Officer – AMSA Convention is coming up in July and guess what?! CSU is sending its BIGGEST cohort ever!!! Tickets are all gone but the excitement is very much alive! It’s going to be a week of academics, chaos, new mates, dance floors, and just a few iconic moments. If you’re going, get keen. If you’re not, get the group chat tea live from the scene.

That’s all from me for now! Go well, stay strong, and remember:

You are built for this. You’ve got this. We believe in you. And if all else fails, Delulu is the solulu!

Yours in caffeine and cramming

Jacques, MDIII

Committee Minutes

And welcome to our new Wellbeing Officer Boston, a mesher hailing from Wagga Wagga!

🩸 AMSA Vampire Cup: CSU Med Gets Bloody Generous 🩸 

April 7 – June 2, 2025

We’re almost at the finish line for this year’s AMSA Vampire Cup, and our med students are out for blood — literally. With 34 donations and counting, we’re making every drop count. Huge thanks to everyone who’s rolled up their sleeve so far.

If you're planning to donate, make sure you join the "Charles Sturt University - Doctors of Medicine" team through Lifeblood Australia so your donation contributes to our tally. You can donate whole blood, plasma, or platelets — all count, all matter.

Every donation can change or save someone’s life — from car crash victims to cancer patients, premature babies, and those with chronic illnesses. Australia's blood supply depends on volunteer donors, and demand never stops.

Let’s keep it flowing — donate before June 2, and don't forget to join the CSU team so we can show that our small cohort numbers can still make a difference.

Need help registering or donating? Reach out to the CSU Vampire Cup reps Annie or Eli and check out www.lifeblood.com.au for details to register.

Siri play “Pump It Up”

🪩 Med Ball

Hey everyone!

It’s the most anticipated time of year again—Med Ball 2025 is officially happening on August 16th, and we are SO excited to finally share the theme with you: Hollywood Glam! Get ready to dress up, dance the night away, and feel like absolute royalty walking down the red carpet.

Gwen and I (your event co-ordinators) have been busy behind the scenes pulling everything together. We’ve locked in the DJ, photographer, sorted the budget and have a cute little Pinterest board going—and we’re still planning more fun things to make the night extra special.

This year, we really want to celebrate our amazing fifth-year students, our first graduating class!! So, we’re subsidising their ticket prices to help send them off in style. You deserve a proper party after everything you’ve achieved! And we are so excited to have all our clinical years back in Orange for a fun catch up!

We’ve also pulled together an awesome planning committee of 1st and 2nd year students who’ve been helping us make decisions, give feedback, and generally be legends. It’s been such a team effort, and we can’t wait to see it all come to life.

There’ll be giveaways, fun prizes, and a whole lot of dancing, so get hyped—and start planning those outfits!

Tickets will go on sale soon, so keep an eye out—we’ll be dropping details shortly.

See you on the dance floor!!

Lots of love, TJ

Opportunities

  • RDN Outreach

    • Applications have closed but there are still a couple of opportunities available. Really great program, and looks great on a NSW RDN cadetship application.

    • More info here, and then email [email protected] if keen

  • RDN Bush Bursaries and CWA Scholarships

    • Applications are currently open for 2 week placement programs during the hols, with $1500 cashola to support.

    • Check RDN’s socials for some insight into the program or speak to someone who’s been in the upper years.

    • Applications close July 28, more info here

    Motor Neuron Disease Surveillance Study Presentation

    • Nurses Training School Room 2-4, Griffith Base Hospital

    • May 31st, 6pm-7:30pm

  • AMSA Queer Con

  • PVOGS Women’s Health Conference

    • July 26-27

    • Webinar part is free, and submissions are now open

    • More info here

  • RMA 2025

  • 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

    • 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

    • Itinerary here

  • Orange Wine Festival

    • Oct 17th - Nov 2nd

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

📡 From the regions: Central West Parkes 📡 

Thinking about your placement options? Look no further than Central West! The Lachlan Health Service is made up of Parkes Hospital and Forbes Hospital and service both towns as well as surrounding satellite towns.

Depending on where you’re from (or maybe you’ve got a specialty of particular interest in mind), the Central West RCS team will try and get you there – we’ve now had students from Central West also go to Cowra, Lake Cargelligo, Dubbo, and Grenfell for GP placement blocks. In 4th year, you’ll also get to return to Orange for your specialty rotations! So whilst you’re allocated to the Central West RCS, know that this region is definitely growing and you will have opportunities to attend placement in different areas of our regions!

OGETS Session - more like OH GET CHLOJO’S FINGERS OUTTA ME!

Not only will you really delve into the ‘Jack of all Trades’ approach thanks to the strong Rural Generalist vibes of our RCS, but you’ll get to start practicing it too! One doctor runs the ED, one doctor runs the ward, and they love giving us the ‘hands on learning’ experience whenever they can (which is OFTEN)!

Parkes Hospital gets two JMOs from Royal North Shore Hospital every 10 weeks as part of a ‘rural term’ in the program, so you will not only get a lot of hands-on experience, but you can work with a few metro-trained JMOs and get the insider info on their metro experiences, their intern experiences, and maybe even tips/tricks on certain training pathways (depending on which way they’re inclined).

Due to the smaller size of the hospital, this means there is limited, consistent access to specialists. However, fret not – you’ll get to see them when they come to do hospital clinics as well as when you rotate to Orange for your specialty blocks in 4th year.

When it comes to accommodation, the Parkes Local Council got it sorted! They leased two 3-bedroom units to CSU for medical students to use, which come furnished (and with precious internet already sorted) so all you have to do is move in.

Even though you’re just over an hour away from Orange, it can sometimes feel like a world away (especially when you’re in ED and observing/helping the ED Doctor manage an unwell patient with vCare and specialists via phone to make sure the patient is stable and can get transferred). But the tight-knit group of students in our region, the RCS Team, and the hospital staff make all the difference for feeling at home as part of something bigger.

The biggest pro of all is the RCS Team itself – the Head of Campus and CSSOs go above and beyond for us students. If you’ve got suggestions or feedback, they want to hear it. If you need someone to go to bat for you, they’re already lined up to go. They’re always willing to hear about your clinical wins and assessment stresses and giving us plenty of support along the way.

If you want to start stretching your medical student wings, think of Central West because as Cynthia Erivo sings “everyone deserves the chance to fly”

Jessica Payne-Burnett, MDIV

A handoff I went to for an obstetric patient in Cowra (threatened prem labour for MCMA twins at like 28-30/40).

🚴 From the regions: Hastings Macleay 🚴 

It was 5:30am on a chilly Sunday in Port Macquarie, and while most of the town was still tucked in bed, Katie Long and I, two Hastings Macleay baddies and self-declared early-rising icons, were reporting for duty as med student volunteers at Ironman Australia 2025.

Bleary-eyed but caffeinated, we arrived ready to save lives... or, at the very least, apply Band-Aids with dramatic flair (which very much did occur). But with nothing much happening yet, we wandered down to the start line... and that’s when things got interesting.

Enter: Sam and Will.

Two of our CSU second-year comrades, looking suspiciously too comfortable in lycra. Turns out they’re not just future doctors, they’re also high-performance endurance athletes (if you know you know), casually out here cycling and running like they’re being chased by student debt (which, let’s be honest, we all are).

Naturally, Katie and I screamed. Not out of fear. Out of sheer awe. No one warned us we were studying alongside actual Ironmen. The quiet achievers are the scariest ones!

Next thing I knew, I was hopping onto the back of a med bike which, yes, is as cool as it sounds. I was the first medical bike out for the cycling leg, zooming along the course. Random spectators were clapping for me! And I wasn’t even in the race.

Was it the speed?

Was it the energy?

Was it the scrubs?

Clearly, scrubs make you go faster. Slay the scrubs. Slubs? (I apologise for being lame)

Once my Tour de Port Macquarie moment wrapped up, I re-fuelled with a bacon and egg roll (essential), ducked home to throw on a roast for my in-laws (priorities), and then returned to the finish line to help triage.

There, I was paired with an incredible paramedic student from CSU and an absolute legend of a nurse. Together, we triaged sweaty champions, monitored post-race collapses, and bonded over our shared love of vital signs.

Did we save lives? Not exactly.

Did we feel like we were starring in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy: Port Macquarie Edition?

Absolutely.

I witnessed a few very real emergencies, learned a tonne, and felt genuinely lucky to be in the thick of the action surrounded by professionals, athletes, and the kind of community energy that makes you forget how early you woke up.

Would I do it all again?

In a heartbeat. Or at least after a coffee.

Because whether you’re sprinting toward the finish line or chasing after a flying roll of tape in the med tent, one thing’s for sure: there’s no such thing as an ordinary Sunday in scrubs.

Also this story is not endorsed by the Hastings Macleay Clinical School. But Year 1's if this convinces you to do your clinical years with us, then I am not sorry.

Jacques, MDIII

Hidden Gems of the Central West

For your non-study related pursuits I’ve pulled together a slightly erratic list of events, and places to visit in the Orange region over the next few months. From the mind of someone who lives here and periodically decides to interact with the outside world.

Some events have yet to put up a guide/exact details, but at least you’ll know they exist, and to look out for information.

Claire C, MDI

Iandra Castle (Mt Oriel homestead)
Open days in Spring/Summer.
Tours of the castle - Bring a picnic and hang out on the lawn.
It’s completely mad.

Cowra Japanese Gardens and Cultural Centre
Sakura Matsuri (Cherry blossom festival) 27th September.
Sakura Matsuri showcases Japanese culture through a range of activities and demonstrations with Bonsai workshops, Taiko drummers, sumo wrestlers, Japanese archery and sword demonstrations, origami, martial arts, singers, dancers, choir, kintsugi, ikebana, tea ceremonies and more.
Alternatively, you can visit any time of year. There is a cafĂŠ, also picnic areas throughout the gardens. It is lovely to wander through and explore.
Distance from Orange - 1hr 7mins.

Age of Fishes Museum – Canowindra
Fossil collection and ancient geography of the region.
Permanent displays and visiting collections
https://www.agefishes.com

Borenore Caves – Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve
Distance from Orange – 16 mins.
Lovely walks, caves to explore. Culturally significant site so wander with care and awe.
BBQ picnic Area.

Ophir reserve – site of original gold mines in Orange
Walking trails and picnic areas (Fourth Crossing).
You can hire gold panning equipment from the visitor's centre (in town) and try it out in the creek if you’re keen.
Approx 15 mins drive from town.

Wineries, some favs:

  • Philip shaw

  • De Salis

  • Nashdale Lane

  • Orange Mountain Wines – try the Ice Viognier dessert wine

  • Heifer Station

  • Cargo Road

Mountain biking and walking trails – Mt Canobolas
Approx 10 mins drive away. More info here.

Dragon boating – Lake Canobolas (10 mins drive)
Various clubs in town – perhaps not a winter activity – but each to their own.

Some nearby villages worth a visit:

  • Millthrope – 25 minutes drive

  • Molong – 30 minutes drive

  • Canowindra – 45 minutes drive

  • Carcoar – 40 minutes drive

Hopefully, you’ll find something to entice you off campus and into the wilds of Orange.

Claire, MDI