RMIT’s cutting-edge facilities are equipped to give you the skills you need for a future-focused career in health or biomedical science.
Getting hands-on and technical is an important part of many RMIT courses, but it’s particularly important when you’re preparing for a career in health science or biomedical sciences.
Gaining practical experience during your health course is an important part of preparing for specialised healthcare jobs, and it's an excellent way to build your confidence working in labs or hospital environments when you begin your career in health science.
Check out these hands-on learning opportunities you can experience in a biomedical science or health course at RMIT.
The ALS SimMan, also referred to as a high-fidelity manikin, is a piece of tech that gives students a simulated hospital- patient experience. RMIT’s manikin and its surrounding facilities are used to teach nursing, but also in other disciplines such as pharmaceutical science.
These immersive manikins help students experience the fundamentals of a career in health science, from learning about specific health conditions to practicing interacting with patients. The manikins are so realistic that you can even measure their physiological parameters, including blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. The manikins can also be asked questions that they will respond to as if they were a real patient. Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences students will even get the chance to provide them with medication in simulated testing environments.
Interacting with the ALS SimMan gives you a taste of what pursuing a career in health science is really like before you’ve even engaged in a practical placement.
Many of RMIT’s biomedical science and health courses, such as the Master of Laboratory Medicine, give you the chance to undertake industry-connected placements in professional environments.
RMIT has introduced updated majors and minors to undergraduate health courses, as well as new first-year foundational subjects.
Called the foundations in health, these subjects are designed to help you learn the fundamentals of human anatomy and physiology, as well as develop your communication and professional skills. They will also introduce you to factors that impact the health of individuals, particularly First Nations people. This common first-year block gives you the skills to pursue a broad range of careers and makes it easier than ever to transfer into another course in health or biomedical sciences.
Industry placements give you the chance to put your studies and experiences into practice. Getting hands-on during study is part of the RMIT experience – in fact in 2023, 19,730 RMIT students completed work-integrated learning activities.
During your health course placement, you could get the chance to work with RMIT’s industry partners, such as Northern Health or VetCheck Technologies, who will enrich your learning experience and give you professional contacts for your future job in health.
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Laboratory Medicine) Cassandra Kennedy described placement as being one of the most valuable and meaningful parts of her studies.
“I had the privilege of undergoing a work placement at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in the haematology and transfusion laboratory,” said Cassandra.
“I was able to make valuable contacts and gain essential experience within the laboratory which enabled me to gain full-time employment as a Trainee Scientist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne before even graduating from my degree.”
Health facilities aren’t the only places to find the latest technology. Introducing the Anatomage Table, a 3D anatomy visualisation and virtual dissection tool that is used in the digital human bioscience facilities at RMIT.
The Anatomage Table acts as a digital cadaver, allowing biomedical science students and academics the opportunity to digitally explore and dissect the anatomical systems of the body. The table allows users to ‘remove’ various elements of the body, such as skin, the cardiovascular system or specific organs in an interactive and immersive way.
With this advanced technology, you can study the anatomical systems of the human body without ever needing to lift a scalpel. This tool makes it easier than ever to prepare for your future work by gaining practical experience in anatomy and dissection.
Before experiencing RMIT’s advanced technology first-hand, you can explore the wide range of facilities across engineering, technology, science and health via an online virtual tour.
Studying a health course such as the Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiations) and the Master of Medical Physics gives you the specialised skills to work with sensitive laboratory equipment. At RMIT you’ll get hands-on with these in the medical radiation labs.
These expansive labs contain many facilities, from Medical Imaging to Nuclear Medicine. RMIT’s Nuclear Medicine facilities are home to equipment for specialised practices such as the delicate process of combining a radioactive isotope with a pharmaceutical component to produce a radiolabelled-pharmaceuticals. In these labs, students engage in practical learning that demonstrates how some of the most delicate medical manufacturing occurs, from syringe shields to lead vial pots.
The medical radiation facilities also contain simulation spaces that use VR technology. Known as the Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Trainer system, these simulations teach students about image-guided radiation therapy and radiation therapy delivery. This is just one of many simulated teaching experiences in the medical radiation labs that will prepare you for a specialised career in health.
Many of these labs can be found on the Bundoora campus, if you’re interested in getting a glimpse of them, keep an eye out for any upcoming campus tours. You’re sure to pursue a career in health or biomedical science once you see the facilities in person!
Story: Jacob Johnston
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