Staff from the University of Western Australia School of Health and Clinical Sciences (SHCS) have travelled from Perth to Geraldton for a 2026 SHCS Teaching Retreat today.
Hosted by the WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH), a University Department of Rural Health and part of SHCS at UWA, the retreat explored innovative approaches to health education and strengthened collaboration to support the future rural health workforce.
Attracting more than 50 SHCS staff from the UWA Perth campus, alongside WACRH staff from Geraldton and Karratha, the event created valuable opportunities for collaboration between the metropolitan and regional teams.
The program included presentations on student and staff wellbeing in regional communities, cultural safety in health professional education, rural workforce development, trauma-informed teaching, assessment innovation and the use of emerging technologies in education.
UWA Dean and Head of School, Associate Professor Khyber Alam said the retreat was an important opportunity for staff to come together and shape the future of health education.
"Teaching retreats provide a valuable opportunity to step back from our day-to-day work, think strategically and challenge existing practices. By bringing together educators from across our School, we can share ideas, learn from one another and collectively shape the future of education to ensure our students are equipped to meet the evolving health needs of communities across Western Australia.”
“We also invited a number of senior academics from the School of Human Sciences and the School of Psychological Sciences to encourage interdisciplinary learning and research, strengthening collaboration across disciplines and creating new opportunities for innovation in health education."
WACRH Director, Professor Sandra Thompson said she was proud to contribute a strong rural and community-focused perspective to the event.
"The WACRH-led sessions highlighted key issues that influence both learning and workforce outcomes in regional communities. Discussions on ruralising the curriculum, identity formation in rural locations, staff and student wellbeing in the regions, and cultural safety help ensure that future health professionals develop the skills, understanding and connections needed to provide high-quality care in rural and remote communities."
The retreat highlighted the value of collaboration, innovation and rural perspectives in health education, strengthening the School's commitment to preparing a skilled, culturally responsive and community-focused health workforce for Western Australia.
Photo caption: Teaching Retreat at the WA Centre for Rural Health in Geraldton attended by over 50 health educators from the University of Western Australia.