The group from Charles Sturt University worked in mobile health clinics as part of their studies of child, adolescent and family health.

CSU Bachelor of Nursing lecturer Cathy Maginnis said work began in the mountains of Kallayaniwattana, Watchan, four hours in a car from Chiang Mai.

"We visited the Watchan hospital, assisted with health care and participated in a breast cancer clinic," Ms Maginnis said.

"Each day we would travel by four-wheel-drive to remote villages to set up mobile health clinics.

"Students joined hospital staff in assessing and providing health care and supplying pharmacy and pathology services."

The trip was a chance to develop skills and compare nursing practises between the two countries, nursing student Elizabeth Bailey said.

"Working alongside Thai nursing teams we were able to assess patients, provide care and medications," she said.

"We learnt invaluable lessons around culturally sensitive care and how to communicate when there are language barriers.

"It brought to light the developments of modern medicine, while also serving as a reminder to never allow medical advances to overshadow the importance of compassion, kindness, empathy and listening.

"The immense rewards, both personal and professional, of knowing we assisted to influence better health outcomes and access for those less fortunate, is one which will remain with me and inspire me for years to come."

For the second week of the tour, Ms Maginnis said the students were based at a public health clinic at Mae Dad.

"This was a more remote location and we became acquainted with cold water bucket showers and using squat toilets in the villages," she said.

"We travelled up to an hour-and-a-half each day to the remote villages and this itself was an adventure as we were able to take in breathtaking scenery along the routes.

"These villages had limited access to health care and education and the people lived very simple lives whilst working extremely hard and for long hours, labouring in the paddocks and caring for livestock.

"We visited schools and delivered health promotion and health care whilst experiencing village life and immersing ourselves in the culture, eating fabulous food and learning basic Thai language."

Woolworths Orana Mall had donated 50 pairs of reading glasses for the delegation to take with them, Ms Maginnis said.

"These had an immediate effect and long lasting benefit and it was very emotional to watch the expressions on the villagers faces change as their vision improved," she said.

"Also, thanks to Rex airlines for allowing excess baggage to take medical supplies to use and donate."

The trip was supported by CSU Global, a university initiative that gives students the opportunity to experience the world through a broad range of international study experiences.