Home • University of Newcastle Medical Society Inc.

The University of Newcastle Medical Society (UNMS) is the peak representative organisation for medical students at the University of Newcastle. The Society (affectionately known as ‘MedSoc’ on campus) represents over 700 students studying the Bachelor of Medicine (BMed), Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSci) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the University of Newcastle. Since starting in 1978 the UNMS has grown and matured into a multi-faceted organisation that organises a broad range of services for its members, including but not limited to representation, academic, social and sporting events, charity and education initiatives, and welfare support.

With events held almost every week of semester the UNMS helps to ensure Newcastle medical students have ample opportunity to achieve an optimal work/life balance. To stay up-to-date with MedSoc events, opportunities and announcement, like us on Facebook.

Representing You

The UNMS Committee includes representatives from all year levels and clinical schools to ensure all students get a direct input into the running of the Society. One of UNMS’ main role is to represent our students’ interests to a large variety of school and faculty committees, and to wider stakeholders including the Australian Medical Association, the Australian Medical Students’ Association, and the New South Wales Medical Students Council.

UNMS has regular meetings with faculty members including the Dean, and with a strong relationship with the School of Medicine and Public Health, the Faculty of Health and Medicine and the Joint Medical Program, we ensure students have a platform to raise feedback and ideas regarding the medical program. UNMS also provide support for students based off campus and in rural and remote sites including the various Rural Clinical Schools.

Our Academic & Education Events

UNMS Academic aims to give members a broader medical education, whether that’s by adding to your First Aid skills, or expanding your understanding of your future career at our various Specialty Nights.

OSCE Night

UNMS runs five OSCEs Night every year (Once a semester for Year 1 and 2 students and in Semester 1 for Year 3 students), giving attendees the chance to practice their clinical skills for the dreaded OSCE exam and obtain feedback from senior students.

The Great Debate

A night of witty banter, the great debate gathers students, lecturers and clinicians to come battle over controversial topics and alike. The Great Debate features a night of laughter and seeing a different side to your revered clinicians.

Specialties Night

No idea what an otorhinolaryngologist does? Neither do we. Specialties night features talks and a panel of consultants at the top of their fields, giving you an insight into their lifestyles and area of expertise.

Saving Jane Doe

For many of us, saving lives was a key component in our decision to pursue medicine. Saving Jane Doe will allow you to hone your skills from a practical point of view in a simulated environment.

We know how to party

One of UNMS’ core operations is to enhance the work/life balance of the medical students it represents. With at least four raging parties throughout the year, UNMS’ social events provide medical students the opportunities to put their stethoscopes aside, let their hair down, catch up with old friends, make new ones and party the night away in Newcastle’s finest venues.

First Incision

First Incision Cocktail Party is the first UNMS Social each year. The party has something for everyone - to kick off the academic calendar, for old friends to catch post-summer, and to welcome freshers into the medical cohort.

MedBall

Ladies and Gentlemen; High heels, champagne, tuxedos and canapes; Get ready for the classiest night on the UNMS calendar. MedBall features dressing up for a relaxed fun-filled night with friends in the most glamorous surrounds Newcastle has to offer.

Halfway Party

A 5-year medical degree is an arduous journey and as such, any milestone should be celebrated. Halfway party (theme selected by he 3rd year class) recognises 3rd years reaching the halfway point in their degrees, and in true Novocastrian spirit all years selflessly party for them.

ER Party

ER Party is the last social event on the calendar, with all years combining to celebrate the end of another year of med school. The theme of this party is anything associated with an emergency room (read scrubs), and the goal to end the year on a high.

UNMS Sports

UNMS Sports provides a range of sporting activities for UNMS members to have fun, get fit, and meet other med students. More importantly, UNMS Sports gives med students an outlet from study and the opportunity to bring out the competitor within!

Med vs Law Rugby

The annual Med vs Law Rugby Match pits two of the university\'s finest degrees head-to-head. With team spirit and degree pride on an all time high, there is so much to love about this game, be it a player bringing the shield home or a spectator cheering the squad on.

Club Sports

UNMS Sports provides a team to most club sports at the Forum on campus. From netball to basketball, polo to futsal, be on the lookout for opportunities to join a team.

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UNMS Community & Wellbeing

UNMS’s Community initiatives, like Teddy Bear Hospital, aims to connect medical students with the community, while our Wellbeing initiatives like Blue Week aims to remind med students to always take care of themselves and each other.

Blue Week

Not only is Blue Week a fun-packed event featuring patting zoos, puppies and pancakes, it is also an important event. Blue Week is a week long event that puts the spotlight on student mental health and wellbeing, and features de-stressing activities, plenaries from renowned speakers, and forums highlighting personal experiences.

Teddy Bear Hospital

Teddy Bear Hospital is an event that is important both to the community and to medical students. From a community perspective, the event shows children that visiting a doctor is not scary and from a students\' perspective, the event helps sharpen communication and interactional skills with younger patients.

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We know how to get creative

UNMS MedRevue is an annual musical production entirely written, directed, produced and performed by 60+ medical students. With months of rehearsing to put on a two-nights-only performance, MedRevue proudly showcases Newcastle medical students’ talents, from dance, to music, to acting, to singing, or in some cases, all four at the same time. What’s better? This is a charity musical, with proceeds that go to UNMS’ Charity partners. Keep an eye out for audition dates for the next MedRevue.

MedRevue 2013

Which Doctor?

MedRevue 2014

Harry Potter and the Principles of Medicine

MedRevue 2016

Doctor Willy Wonka and the Medical Factory

MedRevue 2017

Intussusception

UNMS Charity

So you say you would like to help people…or at least you that’s what you told your interviewer about why you wanted to do medicine. But if you really meant what you said, UNMS Charity is a platform for medical students to give back (and have fun in the process) through multiple events across the year. These events range from the annual UNMS Charity Trivia Night, UNMS Charity Movie Nights, ye ol’ faithful Bunnings BBQ, and for those crazy enough to call exercise fun, through the Hill to Harbour, Bondi to Bronte and Nobbys to Newcastle Runs. For more information on UNMS Charity, feel free to email the Charity Officers at charity@unms.org.au.

International Students

The BMed and MD Program at Newcastle attracts students from all across the world and these students have only added to the already rich and diverse quality of the JMP cohort. The UNMS International Portfolio provides representation and a voice for international medical student at Newcastle, a forum for international students to raise any issues or concerns, and liaises with the faculty to coordinate events and initiatives to assist International students in integrating into university life in a foreign country. To get in touch with the International Officer, feel free to send an email to international@unms.org.au.

UNMS Publications

The UNMS Publications Team work throughout the year to put three publications together: an edition of Introductus, UNMS’ Official Freshers’ Guide, and two editions of Ductus (now freely available via our website!), UNMS’ Official Magazine. For those who enjoy a good STUVAC procrastiread, UNMS’ publications provides just that, and showcases the writing talents of medical students in the process. For those who enjoy writing, Introductus and Ductus is an outlet to get creative and an opportunity to get published. The Publications Team is always on the lookout for up-and-coming writers. If you are one of them, send an email to the Publications Officers at publications@unms.org.au.

Indigenous Representation

The UNMS Indigenous Representatives aim to help blend Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture into the medical society and to bring Indigenous and Non-Indigenous medical students together through clinical teaching nights and other activities. In addition, the UNMS Indigenous Portfolio also works with the Wollotuka Institute to run events and ensure adequate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical student representation to the School of Medicine and the Faculty. To get in touch with the UNMS Indigenous Representatives, feel free to email indigenous@unms.org.au.

We Are Also Part Of Something Much Bigger!

UNMS is one of 22 proud members of the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA). AMSA is the peak representative body for all 17,000 medical students across all 22 medical schools in Australia and aims to connect, inform and represent Australian medical students through advocacy, events and programs, and publications. AMSA advocates for medical students through policy development, advocacy campaigns and representation to governments, universities and relevant medical bodies. Its advocacy efforts also include areas of global, rural and Indigenous health. AMSA also hosts a world-renowned student-run conference, along with 3 other events, such as the Rural Health Summit. Make sure to also have a look at our AMSA@UNMS page to see what AMSA does here at Newcastle or get in touch at amsa@unms.org.au.

Connect

AMSA hosts three world-renowned entirely student run conferences a year: Convention, Global Health Conference and the National Leadership Development Seminar. Each conference provides an entirely unique flavour and provides an opportunity to meet medical students from other universities across the country.

Inform

AMSA Policy is the foundation of AMSA’s advocacy campaign. Policies are discussed and voted upon at Councils by AMSA Reps and direct AMSA’s efforts toward the best interests of medical students. Any medical student can participate in the writing of policy, and should contact their AMSA Rep to find out how.

Represent

AMSA represents its members through multiple platforms. Notably, AMSA runs Council three times a year to discuss issues affecting Australian medical students, with AMSA Reps and MedSoc Presidents from each medical school present to represent the views of their members and take part in the discussions.

And Finally, Something For The Freshers

You’ve got a good GPA/ATAR, sat the UCAT, done the interviews and finally, got into medicine. Firstly, congratulations! Secondly, what the hell do you do next? Between settling into medicine, having to navigate your way through the Hunter Building and for most of you, moving to a new foreign land called Newcastle, the first few weeks of medicine will no doubt be a haze. Good thing UNMS is here for you. UNMS is dedicated to ensuring freshers settle nicely into medicine and feel welcomed into the cohort. We do this through multiple means, mainly, by giving you a one-stop-shop of information (Introductus), a buddy to make you feel welcome and provide you with useful information and resources for the next fives years (a Medtor), and an opportunity to make new friends on a weekend escape away (O’Camp).

Introductus

Introductus is UNMS\' Official Freshers\' Guide. It contains everything you need to know about medicine (think Textbook Guide, PBL 101), settling into university (How to Make Friends) and getting to know Newcastle (Beach Guide, Getting Around). Introductus is handed to all freshers on the first day of Medicine.

The Medtor Program

A medtor is a student from a year above who acts as a mentor and/or a friend to help you settle into your first few weeks of life as a medical student. Rumour has it that medtors are equipped not only with sagely advice, but also stashes and stashes of past notes. Sign-ups to the Medtor Program will be available in your first few days of medicine.

OCamp

OCamp is an annual event for first year medical students in the Joint Medical Program, run by older medical students. In its essence, OCamp is an action packed weekend for freshers to get away, make new friends, have loads of fun and form some of the best med school memories! More information about OCamp will be available at orientation.

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We use Facebook as our means of regularly communicating with out members. To receive up-to-date information on UNMS’ events, initiatives and advocacy, like us our Facebook Page and/or befriend the UNMS Seahorse.

For any enquiries, get in touch with us at secretary@unms.org.au.

University of Newcastle Medical Society Inc.,
Bowman Building, School of Medicine & Public Health
The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan NSW 2308

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