The first year experience of occupational therapy students at an Australian regional university: Promoting student retention and developing a regional and remote workforce.

Objective: Student retention at regional universities is important in addressing regional and remote workforce shortages. Students attending regional universities are more likely to work in regional areas. First year experience at university plays a key role in student retention.

The functional impact of a traumatic hand injury on people who live in rural and remote locations.

Purpose: This study aimed to gain an understanding of the functional impact of a traumatic hand injury on a rural and remote Australian population.

Method: A retrospective, exploratory design was used. Patients who had experienced a traumatic hand injury were samples and were treated at the occupational therapy department at a major regional Australian hospital between January 2003 and February 2007 (n = 198).