As efforts to tackle Australia’s coronavirus outbreak look set to continue for the months ahead, students at some universities are being fast-tracked into early service as clinical assistants in a bid to bolster health systems.
Students from the University of Melbourne started their first day of work at Footscray Hospital on Monday.
"I think that the images we've seen of the millennials at the beach do not represent the true nature of this generation that genuinely would like to help," the university’s medical school dean Steve Trumble told SBS News.
The final-year students will take on support roles in hospitals.
"They will be freeing up health professionals from a whole lot of other tasks that would otherwise hold them back, so a lot of administrative support tasks," Mr Trumble said.
Almost all of the 140 or so final-year students volunteered for the roles.
One of them is international student Annabel Lo who says she is anxious but ready to play her part.
Final-year student Shipra Kaul is grateful to have been given the opportunity. Source: SBS News
"I think we are well prepared for it, we are working in a team of other doctors who oversee our work," the 23-year-old from Indonesia said.
Shipra Kaul, 25, also a final-year student at the University of Melbourne, says being able to contribute during the pandemic is the opportunity of a lifetime.
"I felt that it was a great opportunity for me to try and give back to the health system and try and reduce the load on other healthcare workers in case they would need it on the front line," she said.
A spokesperson for the Victorian Department of Health told SBS News that medical students will be “an important part of the health workforce response to COVID-19” and each local health service would approach the matter depending on their needs.
"Each health service will determine the number of positions. Students will then be offered paid employment contracts which allow them to be supervised in roles that are suitable for their skills and level of experience."
Western Sydney University is also preparing its final-year students to work at hospitals.
Western Sydney University students undertaking induction training via video call. Source: Supplied
"Our students work hard at very practical training to be able to do the job of a junior doctor," said dean of the medical school Annemarie Hennessy.
"I think what we're doing at the moment is bringing forward some of the very practical aspects of that to have them ready to work on the wards quickly and I think they're very capable."
Students began boot camp training via video call platform Zoom on Monday and could begin casual contracts with the NSW Department of Health from May, working up to 40 hours a week.
The students will work under supervision in non-COVID-19 wards to help ease some of the pressure if a surge in demand hits.
Calls for visa restrictions to be relaxed
Although many international students are eager to contribute, their visas restrict how much they can work to 40 hours a fortnight.
Chinese-born Calvin Xu represents international students at the Australian Medical Students’ Association.
"International medical students make up about 16 per cent of medical students in Australia," the 24-year-old said.
"They went through the same training [and] we understand there has been a lifting of restrictions for nursing students."
Calvin Xu says working restrictions on international medical students should be relaxed. Source: Supplied
"We believe such restriction should be lifted for medical students, as international students are also essential workers in these coming months."
The Department of Home Affairs did not directly respond to questions from SBS News about whether visa restrictions will be relaxed for final-year international students studying medicine so they can participate in these new jobs.
The federal government has temporarily relaxed the enforcement of the 40 hours a fortnight restriction for international students working in nursing and aged care.
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If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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