Not Goodbye!

I loved Camp Quality so much that I have decided to continue volunteering with them while I am still in Australia. Since I have completed my degree I plan on staying in Australia for the remaining part of my visa. I have learned so much from this experience and I encourage anyone who is interested in traveling to pursue this as an internship option. The people here were so welcoming and helpful. They made me feel like an important part of the team from the very beginning! Thank you Camp Quality and thank you to the Community Health department and UMD for allowing me to have such a great learning experience.

Internship Accomplishments

Area 2: Plan Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Competency A: Involve people and organizations in program planning

Sub-competency 2: Elicit input from those who will affect or be affected by the program

Sub-competency 3: Obtain commitments from individuals who will be involved

·        Sent out bulk commitment e-mail for Jr. Camp

·        Bookings involving people/coporations at camp

·        Focus group mail out informing and asking for permission for involvement

·        Venue calling/research for high school performance

·        Shopping list for Jr. Camp

·        Visiting venues for high school performance

·        High school roll out meeting

·        Fun day and sibling research and planning

Area 3: Implement Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Competency B: Demonstrate a variety of skills in delivering strategies, interventions, and
programs

Sub-competency 2: Apply implementation strategies

Jr. Camp at Camp Urban located in Melbourne. This was a weekend camp full of fun activities for the younger campers and their siblings. Highlights of camp included a pamper party, trip to the I-max theatre, trip to ScienceWorks, “Australian Idol competition, appearance of celebrities, lots of good food and fun games!

Fun day at Moonlight Cinema located in the Botanic Gardens in Melbourne CBD. Kids and families enjoyed a gorgeous night under the stars watching the movie MegaMind and enjoying their hamper basket full of goodies.

Area 4: Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education

Competency C: Design data collection instruments

Sub-competency 1: Develop valid and reliable evaluation instruments

Competency E: Interpret results from evaluation and research

Sub-competency 1: Analyze evaluation data

·        Research Jr. Camp activities

·        Looked up contact information for medical staff

·        Botanical garden research

·        Venue research for High School Performance

·        Fun Day research

·        Prospective volunteer interviews

Area 5: Administer Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Competency A: Exercise organizational leadership

Sub-Competency 1: Conduct strategic planning

Created schedule of events for Jr. Camp

Gathered necessary supplies for Jr. Camp and discussed logistics and schedule of events

Created hazard assessment for Jr. Camp

Communicated with supervisors regarding internship duties and upcoming events. Coordinated with other agency members via email.

Replied to various emails.

Area 6: Serve as a Health Education Resource Person

Competency B: Respond to requests for health information

Sub-competency 1: Identify information sources needed to satisfy a request

Competency C: Select resource materials for dissemination

Sub-competency 1: Evaluate applicability of resource materials for given audience

Sub-competency 3: Assemble educational material of value to the health of individuals and
community groups

Competency D: Establish consultative relationships

Sub-competency 2: Analyze the role of the health educator as a liaison between program staff
and outside groups and organizations

Sub-competency 3: Act as a liaison among consumer groups, individuals and health care
providers

Sub-competency 4: Apply networking skills to develop and maintain consultative relationships

·        Banking and post office runs

·        Entered data into Razors Edge ( Camp Quality’s information system)

·        Entered volunteer information into RE

·        Created camper DVD

·        Developed monthly newsletter

·        Calling families to confirm camp participation

·        Christmas party invites

·        New Camper packets

·        Entered Bike information into RE

·        Annual report information into RE

·        Created Rosedale Speedway thankyous

·        Organised volunteer folders

·        Conducted various reference checks for new volunteers

Area 7: Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education

Competency B: Apply a variety of communication methods and techniques

Sub-competency 5: Use appropriate techniques for communicating health education information

Sub-competency 6: Use oral, electronic and written techniques for communicating health education information

Sub-competency 7: Demonstrate proficiency in communicating health information and health
education need

·        Attended Lions Club meeting to inform members about Camp Quality

·        Fun Flight RSVP’s

·        Comedy Club meeting

·        Presentation for CQ fundraising event

·        Attended Bike Corporate Challenge bike giveaway

·        Calling campers for Jr. Camp

·        Meeting to accept checks and inform about CQ to Corporate group

·        Attended 6 puppet performances and helped with set up and “crowd control”

·        Created this blog to document accomplishments for internship final project.

Other

·        Completed agency orientation, including technology and safety training

·        Attended staff meetings and functions

·        Attended various events to promote the Camp Quality name and to support our sponsors and volunteers including:

o   Upstream Challenge

o   Wheel-Chair basketball event

o   Golf-Outing Fundraising event

o   Attended event planning meetings for High School performance

Final Time Sheet

Final Timesheet

Area 2: Plan Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Competency A: Involve people and organizations in program planning

Sub-competency 2: Elicit input from those who will affect or be affected by the program

Sub-competency 3: Obtain commitments from individuals who will be involved

Total Hours: 12

Area 3: Implement Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Competency B: Demonstrate a variety of skills in delivering strategies, interventions, and
programs

Sub-competency 2: Apply implementation strategies

Total Hours: 46

Area 4: Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education

Competency C: Design data collection instruments

Sub-competency 1: Develop valid and reliable evaluation instruments

Competency E: Interpret results from evaluation and research

Sub-competency 1: Analyse evaluation data

Total Hours: 61

Area 5: Administer Health Education Strategies, Interventions, and Programs

Competency A: Exercise organizational leadership

Sub-Competency 1: Conduct strategic planning


Total Hours: 4

Area 6: Serve as a Health Education Resource Person

Competency B: Respond to requests for health information

Sub-competency 1: Identify information sources needed to satisfy a request

Competency C: Select resource materials for dissemination

Sub-competency 1: Evaluate applicability of resource materials for given audience

Sub-competency 3: Assemble educational material of value to the health of individuals and
community groups

Competency D: Establish consultative relationships

Sub-competency 2: Analyse the role of the health educator as a liaison between program staff and outside groups and organizations

Sub-competency 3: Act as a liaison among consumer groups, individuals and health care
providers

Sub-competency 4: Apply networking skills to develop ad maintain consultative relationships

Total Hours: 127

Area 7: Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education

Competency B: Apply a variety of communication methods and techniques

Sub-competency 5: Use appropriate techniques for communicating health education information

Sub-competency 6: Use oral, electronic and written techniques for communicating health education information

Sub-competency 7: Demonstrate proficiency in communicating health information and health
education needs

Total Hours: 22
Other
Total Hours: 88

·         Attending various fundraising events to promote the Camp Quality name and to support our sponsors and volunteers.

Up-Stream Challenge 

Wheel-Chair Basketball event

Golf-Outing Fundraising event

·         Attended check acceptance meetings and events

·         Attended event planning meetings and performer auditions for High School Performance

GRAND TOTAL: 360 Hours

Looking Back

My Biggest Challenge:

My biggest challenge was adjusting to life in another country away from my family and friends while taking on the challenge of an internship. I arrived in Australia all by myself not knowing one other person and through out the last four months I have made Melbourne into a second home. Camp Quality provided me with the direction and support I needed to contribute to a great charity. Another challenge was assisting in organising Jr. Camp. I had no idea how much planning and attention to detail it takes to pull off an event. I had to learn how to manage my time and how to complete one task before moving on to the next.

If I Could Have Changed One Thing:

If I could have changed one thing it would have been spending more time, hands on with the families and campers. Going into this internship I thought that it would be all fun and games but there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to provide programs to the community, My favorite part of this internship was going out into the community and talking to donors, families, volunteers, and kids. I loved to see their reactions and how happy it made them. I have a greater appreciation for the non-profit community because of the people behind the scenes that work very hard and are passionate about helping the people they serve.
How This Experience Has Impacted My Career:

I am still unsure of where my career will take me but after this experience I know that I want to be helping the community. It was such a rewarding experience.The most beneficial thing I am taking away from this experience is confidence. I had to be very independent and with the reassuring help of my co-workers my confidence has grown. It was a great learning experience to plan programs and attend important meetings. I think a large part of the learning process was just to observe the workings of an office and organization. Our office was small and everyone worked as one team. Because of this, I was able to see all sides to the running of a charity.  I have also learned how to better communicate with people. I was very shy at the beginning of the internship, both with my co-workers and the families we helped. Overtime I have learned how to voice my opinions and ideas, something I was not good at in the beginning. I had a wonderful time at Camp Quality and plan on continuing volunteering with them while remaining in Australia.

Our Credo

Objectives

1.  Develop or improve current processes and tools for Camp Quality.

2. Engage with prospective sponsors to seek opportunities and build relationships for Camp Quality.

3. Investigate options for recreation programs for Camp Quality Jr. Camp .

4. Assess the application of program strategies for the Jr. Camp.

1.       Demonstrate proficiency in at least four of the seven competencies while at Camp Quality.

2.       Become familiar with the operations and management of Camp Quality.

3.       Increase knowledge and understanding of childhood cancer.

4.       Explain the role of health related organizations in promoting healthy living for all.

5.       Develop a blog of my experiences to document achieving competence.

6.       Demonstrate professional behaviors and make meaningful contributions to Camp Quality.

Location,Location,Location

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

My internship was located in the beautiful city of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. I spent 360 hours at Camp Quality.  Camp Quality is a children's cancer charity that believes in building resilience in the lives of every child living with cancer and their family in Australia. They create an optimistic community for families through fun therapy and education.  They put on camps and fun days for the families of Victoria and have offices through out Australia. They also provide an education program with the use of puppets to educate kids on the topics of cancer while delivering an anti-bullying message.