Nursing Study Tour to South Africa

The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is dedicated to supporting nurses by providing access to scholarships, grants and awards. One of these is the ACN Study Tour Scholarship which, in November 2022 took participants to South Africa to experience a different culture and health care system.

Arun Thomas MACN was one of the recipients of the ACN Study Tour Scholarship to South Africa. Arun is an experienced Registered Nurse, board director, mentor and an Emerging Nurse Leader at ACN.

We sat down with Arun to hear about his experiences on the nurse study tour.

What motivated you to apply for the ACN Nurse Study Tour Scholarship?

By nature, I am curious, open-minded, and a passionate lifelong learner. When the opportunity arose to apply for the ACN Nursing Study Tour scholarship, I didn’t think twice. This was a fantastic opportunity not only for my own professional development but also to learn and understand different health care systems and to gain international perspective and awareness on provision of care while immersing South African culture. I also wanted to enhance my professional practice through international exposure and was such a great opportunity to meet like-minded nurse leaders. This study tour led by ACN CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN enabled me to learn and collaborate as well as to represent my nursing profession.

In what ways did your experience in South Africa improve your leadership skills and how will you apply what you have learned to your ongoing work?

The chance to travel over 15 days in such an amazing country as South Africa with Kylie and other passionate and experienced nurses has proven to be one of the most rewarding experiences in my personal and professional life. Travelling with these amazing men and women allowed me to have much deeper, considered conversations that grew as our relationships developed. This prompted much richer conversations which were further nurtured by our cultural experiences.

This informative study tour helped to refine my leadership skills by strengthening my professional confidence, being proactive, and taking initiative to implement new ideas and learnings within my workplace and beyond. This tour developed my professional and networking opportunities which in turn will help me grow and reflect. I believe the tour experience shaped my growth mindset as well as my communication and listening skills, self-awareness and sense of teamwork.

I now feel better equipped to lead with conviction, courage and purpose. Meeting and collaborating with nurses from diverse walks of life, specialties, and differing stages of leadership, gave me a wonderful opportunity to discuss and observe various leadership styles and experiences. I have taken this newfound confidence and shared learning into my daily practice. I feel sure it has enhanced me to form meaningful and respectful relationships within my team and to better lead my team to be adaptable, excellence-oriented, and confident.

What did you learn about the health care system in South Africa and how it compares to Australia?

The health care system in South Africa is a mix of public and private provisions, with the majority of the population relying on the public sector for their medical needs. The public sector is facing numerous challenges, including inadequate funding, a shortage of health care workers, and aging infrastructure. There is also a large disparity in the quality of care between public and private facilities, with private facilities generally offering higher quality care with more modern resources and facilities.

While the government has made efforts to improve the public sector and increase access to care for all citizens, much work remains to be done to fully address these challenges. Having the opportunity to explore a variety of South African health services was such a highlight for this trip. This included:

• visiting the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto – the world’s largest hospital outside China – which is a public hospital with approximately 3400 beds and about 7000 staff members.
• a trip to NetCare Park Lane Hospital in Johannesburg – which is a private hospital providing both nursing and midwifery services, a local clinic called Murhotso Clinic in rural and local healer in rural South Africa in Timbavati.
• visiting Hlokomela in Hoedspruit, an NGO where nurses are leading inspiring work in providing services to rural women, farm workers & vulnerable popoulation through health & social programmes.

When comparing the South African health care system to the Australian, there are startling similarities and differences. While there were many similarities, two particularly resonated with me. Firstly, the commitment of the nurses and midwives to the provision of the best health services to their communities that they can, and, secondly, the obvious inequity of health care services available to different demographic groups. While Australians are working, albeit slowly, toward a more equitable health system, some South African health staff highlighted a sense of “hopelessness” due to endemic corruption. Despite this and other barriers, others saw opportunities to provide care to their communities through partnership and collaboration.

One experience that really stood out for me was a presentation by the Senior Nursing Director at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the third largest hospital in the world. It was interesting to hear about the challenges faced by the nursing staff. While some were specific to the locality, it was surprising that other challenges, such as funding, staffing, and burnout were familiar themes that we face here at home. I was also inspired and somewhat overwhelmed by the work done by Hlokomela in Hoedspruit. This prominent and respected centre in the health and well-being of the local community serves about 60,000 people every year. With a mission was to “provide quality, all-inclusive health care to everyone in the Kruger2Canyon Biosphere region”, it began supporting farmworkers to care for each other and has since expanded to encompass a wide range of social and health programs. Of particular interest for nurses, and as an example to health care in regional Australia, is the upskilling of nurses to do ultrasounds as part of services provided at the Hlokomela Women’s Health Clinic. One conundrum presented to us at this clinic was the lack of funding for staff. As finding out about volunteering was a primary motivator for going on this tour, I was challenged by the fact that international volunteering by health professionals was actually a double-edged sword for many South African Health services as the government will not fund positions, instead, relying on volunteers.

What were some of the cultural highlights on the tour?

Having never been to an African country before there were cultural highlights from every window and around every corner! Each day we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture. Our lead guide for the trip enlisted local guides to ensure we experienced the nuances of the local culture.

Our Johannesburg guide took us to Nelson Mandela’s home while he was President and where he spent his final days. I was surprised at the emotions I felt while spending time at these places. Spending time in the Apartheid Museum was an absolute highlight – if you can call reflecting on the experiences of black South Africans following colonialisation enjoyable. Australia can learn so much from South Africa’s acknowledgment of their past and the way they educate people about it.

For our tour of Soweto we were privileged to have a fantastic local guide, Josephine. Josephine’s insight into this area’s history and her optimism for its future was inspiring, and despite its challenges, the soul and warmth of the people I met was so unexpected but wonderful.

Animals, animal, animals. The opportunity to experience the amazing South African wildlife at Kruger National Park, Elephant Whispers, and Moholohoa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre will stay with me forever. It was personally rewarding to spend money knowing it was supporting the work of people committed to caring for the wildlife of South Africa. Our bushwalk in Timbavati, where our guides took us around the resort grounds identifying plants, their uses and animal tracks, was a fascinating learning experience. My personal favourites, however, were meeting with the local people in their communities, clinics, schools, and homes. They shared their history, stories, and daily lives with us with honesty and openness that was truly humbling and touching.

Does anyone experience stand out for you?

The study tour provided so many exciting opportunities and experiences but the one that I will take with me was the friendships I formed during our travels. I have never been exposed to a group of people who were so open to exploring new adventures and learning from each other in such a supportive and loving environment. Everyone was a stranger to me on the first day, yet I left on the last day with a family with whom I had spent the experience of a lifetime.

Professionally: The privilege of meeting the amazing and inspiring staff at Hlokomela and seeing how the role of the nurse is expanding to meet the needs of their diverse community.

Personally: Getting up close and personal with the magnificent 7seven ton gentle giant and leader of the herd called ‘Tembo’ at the Elephant Whispers at Hazyview, Mpumalanga. After a rewarding interaction, I got to saddle up and set off into the African bush with the other elephants for amazing ride.

What motivated you to apply to join the ACN Foundation Committee? How is important is it to be involved in professional organisation?

I am passionate and committed about giving back to the nursing profession. When the opportunity arose to join the Committee I wanted to contribute my time and skills and add value through collaboration, contribution and networking. Another motivation was my firm belief in the mission and vision of the ACN Foundation which is to raise funds in support of nurse-led initiatives focussing on research, policy development and advocacy, education and scholarships, nurse leadership and curating Australian nursing history. ACN has played an influential role in my professional journey. By joining, it has provided me with countless opportunities for professional development, leadership, connecting with like-minded people and given me a sense of belonging.

I believe being involved in a professional organisation can help individuals stay up-to-date with industry developments and advancements, as well as give them a platform to voice their opinions and contribute to the growth and betterment of their profession. For me, ACN is the true representation of all of the above.

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for this scholarship?

Grab this opportunity with both hands! Please don’t think twice about applying as this will be a life-changing and inspiring trip. Stay curious, embrace every opportunity to learn and thrive through this impactful ACN Nursing Study Tour Scholarship.

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for this scholarship?

Grab this opportunity with both hands! Please don’t think twice about applying as this will be a life-changing and inspiring trip. Stay curious, embrace every opportunity to learn and thrive through this impactful ACN Nursing Study Tour Scholarship.