Psychology student tours China

Christina Hodge touring China

USQ Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) student Christina Hodge has just returned from the learning experience of a lifetime in China.

Ms Hodge spent two weeks of June, travelling in Xi-an, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing as part of an International Scholar Laureate Program (ISLP) student delegation, touring Chinese health care facilities.

She was offered the opportunity through her association with the Golden Key International Honour Society of which she is the President of the Springfield campus Chapter.

Students selected to be part of the ISLP delegations are usually top scholars who are given the opportunity to gain an international career perspective through the experience.

The Karalee resident said the experience had opened her eyes to cultural diversity.

'I want to work in clinical psychology, specialising in cross cultural psychology and even though I live in multi-cultural Australia, it really isn’t until you immerse yourself in another country like this that you get a true feel for cultural diversity,' Ms Hodge said.

'The trip has given me an invaluable perspective on world healthcare and it was amazing to see firsthand the differences between the Chinese and Australian healthcare systems, both good and bad.

'In China they have three levels of healthcare – metropolitan, medium and rural and the resources allocated for each are very different.

'But like Australia they have problems attracting and retaining quality medical professionals in rural areas. Many of their medical students study overseas and then don’t return to China to work.'

Ms Hodge said one of the best things about her trip was the student contacts she made from other countries.

'I was part of a delegation of 80, made up of four Australians, Canadians, Americans, South Africans and Chinese students.

'Most were medical students, but some were psychology students like myself. I plan to keep in contact with these students and hope to cross paths with them again when we begin our careers.'

Now in her fourth year of study Ms Hodge still has a few years of study left as she intends to begin postgraduate studies in 2011.

'After finishing my studies, I would eventually like to work with people who have experienced major hardships such as after natural disasters or improving health systems in emerging or developing countries.'

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096