Local high school students will soon receive a unique insight into “a day in the life of a healthcare worker”, thanks to the upcoming Aspire2Health program.
The workshops take teenagers out of the classroom so they can experience simulated scenarios and meet health professionals in the field.
This program will help grow the workforce, inspiring the youth of today to look to the health industry and help to address issues in the workforce of the future.
TSBE Health general manager Jaden Frame said it was an exciting opportunity for those interested in entering the growing industry.
“The health sector is the largest employer in the region so the Aspire2Health program is a wonderful way to ensure we link some of our brightest students to health,” he said.
The series of workshops began in May and will host 13 events in various locations including Toowoomba, Chinchilla, Dalby, Goondiwindi, St George, Charleville, Roma, Stanthorpe and Warwick.
Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) director Associate Professor Geoff Argus said the Aspire2Health program identified high school students interested in working in medicine, nursing or allied health and gave them a full immersion into regional and rural healthcare.
“The students participate in interactive clinical skills stations, which expose them to the broad range of medical, nursing and allied health professions,” said Associate Professor Argus.
“We know that students from a rural area who undertake a health degree are more likely to return to practice in a rural area so bringing these workshops to regional and rural southern Queensland creates a pathway for health career choices to grow the rural health workforce.”
The UQ Rural Clinical School (UQRCS) deputy director Dr Doogie Whitcombe said the Aspire2Health program was an excellent way for Year 9 and 10 students to meet health professionals from a variety of backgrounds to inform students about what was it like to work in a regional healthcare team.
“Most students are aware of the roles of a doctor or a nurse, and while these careers are discussed, there are a multitude of other career pathways the students may not be aware of,” he said.
“The main message of the day is that quality healthcare is a huge team effort which requires the input of multiple highly trained individuals.
“These individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and have different skill sets and our aim is to enthuse and excite the students into wanting to become a future member of our professional community.”
Griffith University adjunct Associate Professor Megan O’Shannessy said as part of the Aspire2Health program students experienced what a health student did at a rural hospital.
“This program gives students encouragement and self-belief to pursue a health career,” she said.
“We also share with them the various entrance pathways to health studies.”
To enrol please visit: ruralmeded.org.au/courses/aspire2health/
Aspire2Health events:
Goondiwindi – Tuesday, 12 July 2022
St George – Wednesday, 13 July 2022
Charleville – Tuesday, 02 August 2022
Roma – Wednesday, 03 August 2022
Toowoomba – Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Toowoomba – Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Stanthorpe -Tuesday, 30 August 2022
Warwick – Wednesday, 31 August 2022
