University of Tasmania, Australia

Wilderness Weekend

The School of Medicine, through the Hobart Clinical School, operates a wilderness weekend in semester 2 each year. From 2011 this program became an interprofessional event involving 4th-year medical students and 2nd-year paramedic students.

This program is offered in a wilderness environment and makes use of clinical practice scenarios with follow up tutorials to provide students with a context specific learning experience. Students work in small interdisciplinary teams to achieve the goals of the weekend.

Learning objectives for the weekend:

• Gain a wide experience of community field emergencies
• Understand the importance of leadership and teamwork in a rescue situation
• Be familiar with the activities of ambulance, SES and volunteer rescue organisations
• Be able to provide support and comfort for injured and unwell persons and others involved in a rescue who are not seriously injured or unwell
• Undertake first aid medical interventions for motor vehicle crash victims awaiting transportation to hospital