Pegasus Health has hosted seven student interns doing their health promotion and health science degrees at Ara and the University of Canterbury. The students were placed across Pegasus including with the Equity Leadership team and Refugee Health Service, Te Tumu Waiora, Smokefree ABC and Suicide Prevention teams. Internships are for either 75 hours over one semester or 130 hours over the year. Many of the students worked on projects within their own communities, such as the Pasifika, Chinese, Afghan, refugee, and disability communities to improve access to primary care information and services.
This year’s students worked on a wide range of projects: organising a hui for the Chinese community; running focus groups for the Afghan community; fitness and waka ama for Pasifika women; creating an infographic for whānau of young people living with chronic pain; creating information posters to support youth wellbeing; compiling information for Pegasus World; scoping holistic recalls in practices; and updating health sector and service information.
Students presented on their internships recently and spoke of the useful learning gained from their internships with Pegasus, such as developing communication skills and confidence, engaging stakeholders, tailoring services to particular communities, time management, collaboration, and developing a better understanding of the health system.