Explore Healthcare in Indonesia

During the June /July University holiday break, 13 students (including myself) and 2 lecturers embarked on a two-week study tour to Jakarta, which is the capital city of Indonesia. The group was a combination of 2^nd / 3^rd year Nursing and Public Health students who were eager to explore a new city. 

As a public health student, the opportunity to travel overseas, funded by the New Colombo Plan, really stood out to me as it allowed me to take 40 hours off my “Professional Placement” subject. I jumped at this opportunity to explore a new country and immerse myself into the vibrant Indonesian culture and overall get first-hand experience visiting a new country and viewing their healthcare system. 

As a quick summary, during the two weeks of the study tour, we experienced and did the following things:

• Visited healthcare centres (referred to as Puskesmas’)
• Visited waste management sites
• Attended public lectures 
• Visited community volunteer programs (health-related)
• Toured around the University of Indonesia 
• Visited the University’s hospital 
• Immersed ourselves into numerous Traditional Indonesian dance lessons 
• And made lots of connections with local University Students 

Whilst the trip was composed of many aspects of practical and theoretical learning, it was an overall good balance of very insightful information. The public lectures as well as the one-on-one conversations with locals provided me with information in regards to the Indonesian public health system, different health policies, and learning about the real health challenges that are a threat to the population. As well as this, we learnt about the resilience that this culture has and the interventions in place to overcome public health issues. 

Along with all the learning parts of the trip, the one thing that mainly stood out to me was the hospitable nature and kindness of the Indonesian people. Visiting numerous healthcare facilities, we were presented with many mothers, children, and families requiring help but they all greeted us with a smile and insisted on taking many photos with us and allowing us to observe.

Not only this stood out to me but the volunteer aspect of all healthcare facilities in Jakarta / Depok was astounding to see as many healthcare facilities we visited were run purely by volunteers (many who were retired nurses). 

Overall, applying for this trip was well worth it and allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and meet new friends from Australia as well as from Indonesia. This trip provided me with valuable insight into another healthcare system and has allowed me to gain a broader understanding of what health means to each individual. 

Mila Buterin
Faculty of Health
Indonesia Study Tour
New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant Recipient