Our Master’s coordinator Kristina Bennett has been following up with some of our past students to understand the impact of their studies on their work with young people in the community. Here she spoke with Dr Tom Hurley, a graduate of both the Centre for Adolescent Health’s Global Adolescent Health Massive Open Online Course and the Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, both of which are run through the University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics. The next information session will be held on the 19th September – to register sign up here.
Dr Tom Hurley is a paediatrician working at the Sunshine Coast Hospital in Australia where he heads up their Adolescent Health programs. We asked Tom about his experience studying with the team at the Centre for Adolescent Health/University of Melbourne.
Q: How did you find out about the Global Adolescent Health – Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)?
A: I can’t recall how I found out about the MOOC. I think I was told about it from the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) community – but that is a guess. I had a growing interest in AYA care in our health district and I wanted to learn more about the topic. Doing the MOOC was an achievable and affordable way of getting an AYA view – and I had heard the content was good and the presenters excellent.
Q: What did you like about doing the MOOC?
A: I could do the MOOC in my own time and at my own speed as lectures were recorded. The information was current and well presented. It was an achievable goal.
Q: What inspired you to continue to the more formal study pathway at Melbourne University?
A: I loved the MOOC material and enjoyed increasing my knowledge base. I had accrued study leave and I wanted and needed legitimacy to push the AYA agenda in my health district. The Melbourne University Adolescent Health and Wellbeing (AHW) study pathway in the form of the graduate diploma in AHW would give me that legitimacy and I was hopeful it would persuade the College of Physicians to allow me to advance a modified training pathway to become an AYA physician which it subsequently has done.
Q: How long did it take you to decide to enrol in the Graduate Certificate/Diploma course?
A: Initially I did the MOOC to gauge my capacity to get back into study as it had been a while, once I completed that successfully, it took three months for me to arrange to use my study leave and alter my work timetable.
Q: What was your favourite subject during your Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing?
A: My favourite subject was Socio Environmental Context of adolescents. It allowed me a previously under-appreciated view of the social influences on health and a window into social science in the context of AYAs. It gave me a clearer framework to understand social and health inequalities and how and why they have developed over the last century. Bronfenbrenner’s model is a useful tool to help me frame past and present influences on youth health and in understanding protective and risk factors which I use mores nowadays in my paediatric role in a general regional hospital.
Q: What was the most surprising thing you learnt during your studies with us?
A: The diversity of students learning about AYAs and the skills and knowledge they brought to the course which in turn broadened my view of AYA challenges and issues. Nurses, Police, teachers and doctors work across a range of youth experiencing all different social and health issues which when brought to the table in the form of tutorials and lectures enriched and broadened the discussions.
Q: What has been the most significant change, for you, as a result of doing the course?
A: I now see more AYAs in my practice in the hospital and work in a team to improve our AYA Services. I have a deeper understanding of AYAs and why and how they present in our health service. The course has continued to grow my knowledge base and given me legitimacy in my role as an adolescent physician, empowering me and helping me advocate for further AYA services in our health district.
Q: Why is this significant?
A: AYAs are a group that traditionally falls through the cracks in our health district (and country) that have under-recognised and undermanaged health issues. Improving the care for these individuals can change and improve their life trajectories.
Q: What difference has it made?
A: Attaining the Grad Dip in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing (AHW) has helped me on an individual basis to broaden my knowledge and confidence in AYA care. I use this information and knowledge in my clinical care. I use this knowledge in guiding AYA health planning and bring this to the growing AYA health team we have in my health district. It has also helped me on the formal training pathway to become credentialed as an AYA physician.
Q: Any last thoughts for people considering doing either the Global Adolescent Health MOOC or the Graduate Diploma/Masters in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing?
A: If you want to become empowered to help adolescents and young adults then embarking on a well-recognised and respected AHW study pathway will help you make a difference for our young people and in turn open doors for you as well.