Rural Inter-Professional Program Emergency Retreat (RIPPER) (Staff)

RIPPER was a pilot event in 2006 and, due to its huge success, was offered again in 2007. It is anticipated RIPPER will again be held in 2008, and will become an ongoing annual event. The program is aimed at showcasing the importance of inter-professional learning and collaboration within a healthcare setting. The event is structured around several rural emergency health care scenarios, and requires students to work in interdisciplinary teams to resolve and manage both the emergency and also develop potential prevention and aftercare strategies. The project was initially developed by staff from the UDRH, and the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, and Pharmacy. Its aim is to promote the principles of inter-professional education and collaboration, by simulating a number of health care emergency situations in a rural community. The retreat takes place in Scottsdale each year during September. In 2006, 30 students took part contributing inter-professional skills and knowledge to the program within a mentored team environment involving university staff and local health professionals from both Scottsdale and Launceston.

The overall objectives of RIPPER are to:

• facilitate positive and effective interprofessional rural learning experiences for students,
• enhance collaboration and communication between academics, rural practitioners and students,
• facilitate rural health evaluation and research activities to underpin interprofessional education.

While formal evaluations of the RIPPER pilot are still taking place, preliminary feedback has indicated an overwhelming support for the program by both student and staff alike. This gives positive scope for the further development of a sustainable inter-disciplinary health care stream within the Health Science curriculum, and the development of further shared teaching and learning initiatives among the health related disciplines.

The program also strengthens the partnership between the Scottsdale community and the University of Tasmania, particularly in encouraging community ownership in the culture of health education.