Quotas break chiros’ backs.

by Jason Della

April 21, 2008

THE need for chiropractic students to earn a buck for Murdoch University is stressing them out, and affecting their education, says the uni’s student guild.

“The chiro’ school is not a corporate entity,” guild education and welfare officer Suzanne Barley said. “It must be remembered that they are attached to a public educational institution, and they should not be expected to make a profit.”

Ms Barley was concerned about student exploitation, saying many students had other workplace commitments on top of their clinic time.

In 2008, the number of fee-paying appointments that each fifth year chiro’ student was required to do rose from a minimum 300 to a minimum 400.

The dramatic increase has created resentment among chiro’ students, and has cast doubts upon the school’s motivations, says Bill Hayward, a guild council representative.

“I am totally opposed to the increase,” Mr Hayward said. “It’s scary.

“There is a lot of apprehension when dealing with the public, and now there is an increased expectation to perform.”

If fifth year students don’t reach their individual quota of 400 appointments, they need to repeat their practical unit until they do.

In response to a recent question on notice from guild vice president, Basha Stasak, about the appointments hike, the school provided a report on student workload to the uni’s academic council.

Tabled on April 16, the report said required appointments last year were in line with the Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia’s recommended minimum of 300 appointments.

There is an expectation on all schools to break even financially, acting chiro’ school Jeff Colley told eMU News. However, he stressed the increase in patient numbers was not based on this.

He said the increase would benefit students, and would help develop their professional skills and encourage “life-long learning”.

Notwithstanding that, fees for all visits to the on-campus chiro’ clinic rose by five dollars this year. Fees range from $40 for a first-time visit from a member of the public, down to $10 for a repeat visit by a chiro’ student.

Not only do chiro’ students now need to see 100 extra clients, they are also required to source the clients themselves, aided only by a promotional website and some on-campus advertising.

Fifth year chiro’ student Johana Revilla said she was still keen to become a chiro’, but having to gather clients herself was unfair.

“It’s up to us to get a voice out there to get the numbers,” Ms Revilla said. “The school should help out more with things like advertising.”

DISCLAIMER: Jason Della is the guild general secretary, and sits on Murdoch’s academic council.