The Kids and Families Program is an important part of the training of medical students (trainee doctors) at the University of Tasmania. It introduces students to normal childhood and the importance of the family. It is the first long-term professional relationship that medical students have.
Students follow the progress of a child over a 2-year period. They do this through visits to a family, along with a series of online tutorials and seminars.
The Kids and Families Program begins by introducing 2-3 first-year medical students to a family who are preparing to have a baby, and who live in the Hobart metropolitan area.
Students will visit your family at home, at a time that is convenient to you, and will follow the progress of your child during the next 2 years.
Visits will take about 1 hour. There will be 2 visits in the first year, 4 visits in the second year, and 1 visit in the third year of the program.
During their visits, students will ask you about the development of your child and seek your family's perspective about various health care issues. They will also ask you about topics such as feeding, growth, relationships in the family, parenting, accidents, changes in behaviour, child care, emotional support and other related topics.
Students will benefit greatly from your experiences as a parent.
The Kids and Families Program is a very important part of the medical course. Rather than concentrating upon disease, this program emphasises normality. It teaches concepts of preventative health, ranges of normal behaviour, and the special relationships and responsibilities that a doctor has.
The Kids and Families Program motivates students by allowing them to see the relevance of the other learning that they do within the university. The program emphasises the importance of a "whole person", rather than "disease-based" approach to health care.
In addition, the program gives students a good understanding of family health care issues and normal childhood, an essential element of effective care for children.
"I have been involved with the Kids and Families Program for all 3 of my children.
The program provides medical students with an opportunity to work closely with the pregnant woman and gain an understanding of the challenges of raising a newborn. Students conduct their interviews in a non-threatening and comfortable environment away from the clinical setting of the hospital.
I have enjoyed sharing my experiences of becoming a mother with students from the program. It has been lovely to meet students who are focused on becoming better doctors and interacting with the community."
Mandy - Family participant
"It has been a great learning experience to be able to follow a family's journey through what can be said as one of the most challenging yet memorable times of their lives."
Sanjana - Medical Student
We are looking for families who are due to have a baby born in May, June, July or August. Please contact us if you might be interested in participating.
For further information about the Kids and Families Program, please call the Program Administrator on 6226 4786.
As with your current doctors and other health care providers, the information obtained as part of the Kids and Families Program is completely confidential. Students know they need to respect your privacy and safeguard your confidentiality.
Your name is not disclosed with any material as a pseudonym is always used. Students are forbidden from releasing any information to another person without your specific consent.
Students are not qualified to give medical advice to you or your family. If concerns about the health of your child arise during the course of the program, you need to discuss these with your Health nurse and/or your General Practitioner.