A total of 17 students from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, took part in The International Student Public Health and Social Work Study Tour (ISPH-SWST) Program 2023 organized by Universitas Indonesia (UI) through the Faculty of Public Health (FKM) on 4th -17th of December 2023. This activity is an intensive program for public health students in Australia to enrich their knowledge while gaining direct study experience related to the area of public health in Indonesia. They receive learning in three domains, namely learning related to current issues and an overview of the challenges faced in improving the level of public health in Indonesia, learning about biomedicine and its role in public health (especially in laboratory detection), and learning about disabilities and social work from a health perspective. public.
This learning was delivered by FKM UI lecturers, as well as several resource persons from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia (RI), the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), the Demographic Institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business UI, the Indonesian Social Work Consortium, and UI Faculty of Medicine. During the program, the participants were also accompanied by a tour leader, FKM UI representatives, as well as Indonesian students who became discussion buddies.
Dean of FKM UI, Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., hopes that through this activity, participants can learn about public health problems and programs through various seminars and field visits to several public health facilities in Indonesia. Participants can also enjoy and learn Indonesian culture and language. “This activity is a good start for collaboration and cooperation between FKM UI and QUT in the future,” he said.
On this program, the participants received knowledge materials regarding General Overview of Indonesian Public Health System; Public Health Challenges in Indonesia and Role of Stakeholders; Communicable Diseases; Sexual and Reproductive Health; Nutrition and Food Safety; Stunting in Indonesia, Health Status and Population Development in Indonesia, Disability and Social Work; Advancements in Laboratory Diagnostics for DHF, Malaria, and TB in Indonesia: Current Status and Future Prospects; Non-Communicable Diseases in Indonesia; dan Tobacco and Youth in Indonesia.
Apart from receiving material enrichment, participants made field visits to places related to public health and social work, such as community health centers and Integrated Healthcare Center (posyandu) in Babakan Madang, 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) waste processing sites in Bogor, Cipayung Nursing Home, and UI Hospital. Participants also visited the Australian Embassy in Indonesia and the Indonesian Ministry of State Secretariat. Apart from that, they have the opportunity to study Indonesian at the UI International Language Institute (LBI), get to know Betawi culture directly at the Setu Babakan Betawi Cultural Village, and enjoy the nuances and typical Sundanese food at Saung Dolken.
Jerico Pardosi, Ph.D., 2007 FKM UI Alumni, who is a Lecturer in the School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health QUT, expressed his gratitude to UI for providing the opportunity for QUT students to learn directly from the health experts community at FKM UI. Through participation in the ISPH-SWST Program, Australian students can learn directly from teachers, practitioners and the public health community in Indonesia. He hopes that this activity will provide various perspectives and experiences that will benefit public health in both countries.
Meanwhile, one of the ISPH-SWST Program 2023 participants, Jack Mcbride, said that public health is a science that continues to develop, so his participation in this activity was very useful in learning theory and practice. “Seeing how policies influence decision making in public health programs in Indonesia and how communities play a role in helping public health programs is something that is interesting for us. We received a lot of input while participating in the program at FKM UI,” said Jack.
