Nine students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery studying NURS2163, Complementary Therapies and Healthcare, have just returned from a two-week cultural study tour to Northern Thailand in association with the Boromrajonani College of Nursing, Nakhon, Lampang. The students were accompanied by Associate Professor Pamela van der Riet and Dr Teri Stone.

The study tour was designed to introduce students to the culture of Thailand and the place of complementary therapies within healthcare in Thailand. Students participated in a series of lectures, workshops and observations on aspects of Thai massage and also spent a day at the rehabilitation centre where Thai massage, herbal therapies and meditation are practised.

The students also had the opportunity to visit:

• the delivery suite at Lampang Hospital to see a baby recently delivered by Caesarean section
• the stroke rehabilitation centre to experience traditional Thai complementary therapy and holistic care at work
• the senior health promotion club to be involved with the elderly people whose strong sense of community was inseparable from their approach to mind, body, soul and healthy living, and
• the Healing Haven (Fairy Garden Project) that is being developed within the Lampang Hospital. Earlier this year, The School of Nursing and Midwifery was involved in raising money to help fund the Healing Haven through a series of Fairy Garden BBQ's held across the Callaghan, Ourimbah and Port Macquarie campuses.

Overall, the students attending said that the tour had been inspirational and opened their eyes to the possibilities of holistic care.

2011 Cultural study tour feedback

• I have found this study tour to be exceptional. This experience will be one that will have a positive impact on my life for many years to come. I was overwhelmed by the amazing hospitality of the Thai culture and I feel that this tour has enabled wonderful insight into the health sector of Thailand. I would highly recommend future students to attend. Loved it!!
• It has strengthened my desire to further explore the possibilities of integrating complementary healthcare into my nursing practice.
• This was an amazing opportunity to witness holistic healthcare in action. It highlighted the benefits of body, mind, spirit nursing and clearly demonstrated that holistic nursing is the optimal approach for positive patient outcomes. Thai people are far more aware of individual health responsibilities to maintain holistic health and the intrinsic integration within the health system was very impressive.
• The tour was absolutely fantastic. It exceeded my expectations by far! I felt as though every day was completely filled with incredible learning experiences. I loved it!
• An excellent experience that I would recommended to future students.