Frequently Asked Questions
This is why all EmergencySA placements include the following:
- A well organized structured placement of which you will have all the details prior to your departure.
- All accommodation, breakfast and dinner, drinking water and necessary transportation.
- Flights to and from Perth; Western Australia including domestic flights in South Africa.
Once you have finalized your application, the staff in our head office will be in touch with you to determine exactly what it is that you are hoping to get from your elective experience – what area of specialty you are interested in, what kind of hospital or clinic you would like to work in, etc. We then liaise with the staff in our destination countries who – thanks to the strong links they have forged with local institutions - will be able to arrange a placement which matches your requests.
They will provide you with a designated clinical supervisor, who will act as your main point of contact with the hospital or clinic, both before and during your placement. As part of their role, this supervisor will provide you with an elective experience suitable to your skills, experience and the confidence they have in your abilities.
For each placement we will be paying a fee or make a set donation, a large chunk of your package cost. It is important to us that the people working with our students benefit from the placement fees that we pay each hospital, and not just upper management, so we make regular donations of money and equipment to individual wards and departments as well.
- Insurance
It is a requirement of all our medical elective students or professionals that they have travel insurance in place before they travel, for the duration of their time away with us. Because it is such an important part of our service, we did originally consider factoring insurance cover into the cost of our programs, when we first set. However, we decided in the end that there was such variety on offer in terms of type of policy and price range that we could not possibly do this and keep everybody happy!
If you have insurance already in place, please check that it will cover you for the destination you are going to, the duration of your trip, and any activities you are intending to do.
- Professional Indemnity
Indemnity protection for your particular field of healthcare is essential for working in a hospital or other clinical setting. Its main purpose is to provide legal protection and assistance, especially in cases of alleged negligence or malpractice.
Many healthcare students and professionals around the world are able to obtain free professional indemnity, either through their university as a student member of the relevant national professional body or their employer.
- Personal health
Travel to most countries will involve some sort of health cost, particularly if you have not ventured far from home before. Vaccinations and various types of prescription & over-the-counter medication may all be recommended in your chosen destination, and it is a good idea to start thinking about this a good few months before you leave, as some vaccination programs are spread out over a few weeks and may have costs involved, depending on your country of origin.
- Travel kit
It is possible to find out from our staff what is available at your destination before you leave if there is something you think you will need, and various items can often be bought out there, but as a general rule we ask that you bring all clothing and equipment that you are going to require with you. A checklist will be sent to you on acceptance of your application which will help in this regard.
Should you require, we have a service provider that will provide you with anything you might require.
*As rated by the TGCSA
Food is catered for at all times and supplied through a popular restaurant chain where students are taken after a day’s work to enjoy great South African cuisine. We make use of a delivery service which delivers any type of food from a whole range of restaurants at any time of the day or night.
Once you actually arrive at your destination, you will be met by a representative of EmergencySA which will take you to your accommodation and ensure you settle in along with the other students. When you have recovered from the journey you will be given a full orientation of the local area, including how to use public transport, where to withdraw cash or change traveler's checks, the location of the best internet cafes, and anything else that you need, or may wish, to know!
The following day after you arrive, you will attend an induction course which will include local culture, local protocols, safety briefing and an introduction to the vehicle you will be using. You will also be introduced to your supervisor and your colleagues, and taken through all the important documentation and information that is required. After this you are free to start your placement in earnest. Your initial placement consists of 4 days on our frontline response vehicles accompanied by another one of your student colleagues, one of our staff paramedics and a doctor or security official. After completion of the front line response vehicle placement, you will attend your selected hospital placement. All transport and guidance will be offered by us.
We aim to give you all the information and guidance that you require in order to feel safe and secure when you are going about your daily life at the hospital or clinic in which you work, and likewise while you are out in the local area. Then, whilst you are in the accommodation unit, we want you to see it very much as a safe haven, which is why we take steps to ensure we maintain high health & safety standards, and we do not hesitate to employ additional security measures where we deem them appropriate.
Once you’ve arrived at your destination you will be met by one of our dedicated overseas staff. From the moment that you arrive in the airport, they will be there to meet you and take you over to the accommodation facility. They will provide you with an orientation of the local area and take you to your induction on the first day and generally help you with anything that you need to know. There will always be at least one staff member around you throughout the day and they are contactable by phone 24/7, if you have any problems.
If you are interested in doing a bit of tourism or experiencing the beautiful country of South Africa, you are in luck. We have set a day aside after your placement for a day of debriefing and sightseeing. We offer many opportunities you can select from such as shark cage diving, local wineries and Table Mountain hiking trips.