Asia Study Tour 2005
The 2005 Study Tour visited three culturally diverse Asian countries: Singapore, Malaysia and India. The following themes were explored in some depth: Maternal and Child Health, Environmental Health and Alternative Medicines.
In each country visited, the program covered:
- its history, culture, social and business customs
- the current economic outlook and business/legal/political environment, especially for foreign organisations, as understood by the local Australian Embassy or Consulate
- how government and non government organizations (NGOs) undertake programs to improve the health of people especially mothers and children.
- environmental health issues
- alternative medicines
Organisations participating in the program included Health Departments, Government and Private Hospitals, Women and Adolescent Support Networks in Melaka, Homeopathic Centre and Hospital and an NGO employee spoke about difficulties of undertaking tasks associated with the earthquake in Kashmir.
Briefings were given by the Education Officer in the Australian High Commission in Delhi providing participants with broad economic and political overviews from which they could make sense of the information they gained in the site visits.
In Delhi we visited a Homeopathic Hospital, in Varanasi, we visited a hospital and in Dharamsala, we visited the Tibetan Children's Village, Tibetan Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic and Delek Hospital and the Norbulingka Institute for Preserving Tibetan culture.
The non-formal parts of the tour probably generated the most learning. Students were able to visit the home of the Dalai Lama and attend a festival in his honour. We ate local food, we explored the cities; we met enterprising street children touting for money. It was a fantastic tour with no injuries or major diseases.
Study tours are excellent ways of ensuring that students obtain an international experience under guidance. A study tour such as this enables students to see health practices in other countries and to visit places and organizations they would not normally have access to.
Helen Fairnie
February 2006
