Twenty members of the Australian Medical Association (NSW) enjoyed a five-day programme from September 25-29 in Sarawak, a Malaysian province on the Island of Borneo 

Regional networking
The highlight of the conference was a networking session with the Malaysian Medical Association (Sarawak) members where a local consultant briefed the group on the medical developments in Sarawak to improve services in rural areas.

Dr Robyn Napier, medical secretary and medical director of the Australian Medical Association (NSW), says: “Our colleagues in Sarawak come from first-hand experience and I am looking forward to incorporating that knowledge into our practices back home. For me, the real highlight is what I have learnt. Groups must come to Sarawak.”

Rewarding interactions
The group was energised by a day spent with some of Sarawak’s most cherished residents. Delegates spent the morning experiencing the ‘Heart-to-Heart with Orangutans’ activity at the Matang Wildlife Centre, where the apes undergo rehabilitation before being returned to the wild.

The programme was developed by the Sarawak Convention Bureau and Sarawak Forestry as an interactive CSR programme that builds awareness of the endangered animal as well as giving delegates an opportunity to connect with the destination.

Rangers briefed the group on the conservation programme before leading a tour through the centre. Delegates were then assigned tasks such as painting the walls, cleaning cages or assisting with the Orangutan Enrichment Programme. After lunch, the group transferred to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre to see semi-wild orangutans in their natural habitat. The group then spent two nights at Borneo Highland Resort, which offers one of the region’s top golf courses and a jungle spa.

Organiser David Broit of Platinum International Travel, says: “The success of bringing my first two groups into Sarawak means that it is a definite inclusion in my tour programme for future groups.”