The Central West Hospital and Health Service has resumed the hosting of school-based trainees that was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Central West Hospital and Health Service Staff Development Officer Bron Elliott said the health service currently was hosting four school-based trainees.
“We have two each from Barcaldine State High and Longreach State High,’’ Ms Elliott said.
“All our school-based trainees are Year 11 students and the program runs for two years, covering years 11 and 12.
“During their two-year program, the students work for us one day a week during the school term and then they can do extra work, as suits them, during the school holidays.
“We have one student from Barcaldine undertaking a Certificate III in Individual Support, which will allow them to go on to a career as a Care Worker or Disability Support Worker if they wish.
“The second student from Barcaldine is doing a Certificate III in Dental Nursing, which will fit them for a career as Dental Assistant should they wish.
“Our two students from Longreach are both doing a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance.
“This certificate will allow them to progress to a potential career as an Assistant in Nursing, a patient care attendant, or a personal carer.’’
Barcaldine State High School-based Trainee Danni-Elle Cridge is doing a Certificate III in Individual Support.
“I chose to do the Certificate III in Individual Support because it is a great qualification to obtain for someone like me who is looking to work in the aged care/nursing industry,’’ Danni-Elle said.
“This certification provides the necessary skills and knowledge that can open up opportunities to a rewarding career path.
“In the longer term, I am aiming for a career in nursing. Being a nurse would be an incredibly fulfilling career as I love to help people and provide care during vulnerable moments.
“Gaining experience from interactions with patients through my school-based traineeship would be a highlight of the constant learning and growing of the position.
“I chose to participate in the Central West HHS school-based trainee program as it has offered me an opportunity to be something during school and pave the way for when I leave school.
“It also allows me to be more involved in a different section of the community whilst still being of school age.
“I enjoy the way I am supported in and out of the work place, including module feedback, regular wellbeing check-ins and the way I am able to conduct myself in the workplace as an employee rather than a student.
“I am very grateful to be a part of the school-based traineeship program and all that it has to offer me.’’
Longreach State High School student Isabelle Mullen also is pursuing a traineeship and undertaking a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance.
“I chose this Cert III as it will allow me to work in a hospital environment while completing further nursing studies,’’ Isabelle said.
“I am aiming to be Registered Nurse/Midwife in the future, as I am interested in helping others by providing care.
“I like that the school-based trainee program allows me to gain knowledge for future studies without interfering with schoolwork, but also that it allows me to see and experience nursing hands on.’’
Ms Elliott said hosting students in the Central West, whether school-based trainees, or medical, nursing, and allied health students, was a great way of introducing the future generation of workers to the benefits and advantages of working in a rural region.
“We hope to offer additional school-based trainee positions later in the year,’’ she said.
“We all know the difficulties experienced in rural regions in attracting and retaining staff, whether clinical or non-clinical.
“By supporting and providing opportunities for school-based trainees, we are, in effect, helping to grow our own workforce.
“It’s a workforce model that focuses on attracting, developing, supporting, and retaining local residents to create a sustainable pipeline of workers for our future workforce, as well as supporting the communities in which we live and work.
“It’s a great way of introducing the future generation of workers to the benefits and advantages of working in our region.
“In previous years, we have had six former school-based trainees who went on to take up employment with Central West Health.
“Some have since moved elsewhere but three remain with us as current employees at Barcaldine and Blackall.’’