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Introduction to the Kids and Families Program

The Kids and Families Program is a vital component of the medical course at the University of Tasmania, designed to introduce medical students to normal childhood and the importance of family. This program is the first long-term professional relationship that medical students have, providing them with a unique opportunity to follow the progress of a child over a 2-year period.

Program Structure

• The program begins by introducing 4 first-year medical students to a family who is expecting or has recently had a baby born during April to August.
• Students visit the family at home or undertake virtual visits online, at a time convenient to the family, to follow the progress of the child over the next 2 years.
• Visits are approximately 1 hour long, with 2 visits in the first year, 2 visits in the second year, and 1 visit in the third year of the program.

Program Objectives

• During their visits, students ask about the development of the child and seek the family's perspective on various healthcare issues.
• Topics of discussion include feeding, growth, relationships within the family, parenting, accidents, changes in behavior, childcare, emotional support, and other related topics.
• The program aims to teach concepts of preventative health, ranges of normal behavior, and the special relationships and responsibilities that a doctor has.

Importance of the Program

• The Kids and Families Program is a crucial part of the medical course, emphasizing normality rather than disease.
• It motivates students by allowing them to see the relevance of their learning within the university.
• The program provides students with a good understanding of family healthcare issues and normal childhood, an essential element of effective care for children.
• It adopts a "whole person" approach to healthcare, rather than a "disease-based" approach.

Program Benefits

• The program offers a unique learning experience for medical students, allowing them to develop their skills in a real-world setting.
• It provides families with an opportunity to contribute to the education of future healthcare professionals.
• The program promotes a deeper understanding of the importance of family and community in healthcare, reflecting the university's commitment to delivering impact for and from Tasmania.