High school students from across the region are being offered a unique insight into a day in the life of a healthcare worker, thanks to the Aspire2Health program.
The program, now in its sixth year, takes rural and regional students out of the classroom and allows them to experience simulated scenarios, participate in hands-on skills stations and meet health professionals.
It provides an invaluable opportunity for aspiring healthcare students to gain a real-world understanding of the profession, helping them make informed career choices.
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) Health and Education manager Josh Edwards said it was an exciting opportunity for students interested in entering the health industry.
“The health sector is our region’s largest employer, so the Aspire2Health program is an excellent way to ensure we practically link students to health opportunities,” Mr Edwards said.
The series of workshops will be held in Kingaroy, Chinchilla, Dalby, Goondiwindi, St George, Charleville, Roma, Stanthorpe, and Warwick.
They are designed to take students beyond the classroom, allowing them to engage in simulated scenarios, practise clinical skills and interact with experienced health professionals.
The Aspire2Health program is a strategic effort to bolster the rural workforce by inspiring today’s youth to consider careers in the health industry, thereby addressing future workforce challenges.
Through hands-on experience and direct exposure to the daily operations of healthcare workers, the program aims to spark interest and passion for healthcare professions among students.
Associate Professor Geoff Argus of Southern Queensland Rural Health said:
“We know that when students from a rural background pursue a career in health, they are more likely to return to a rural area to work.
“The Aspire2Health program is about exposing regional, rural and remote school students to the variety of possible health career pathways to contribute to a homegrown rural health workforce.”
Adjunct Associate Professor Megan O’Shannessy of Griffith University highlighted the unique benefits of the Aspire2Health program, noting that it offered students a glimpse into the life of a health student at a rural hospital.
“This program gives students encouragement and self-belief to pursue a health career,” said Associate Professor O’Shannessy.
She further emphasised the program’s role in informing students about the various entrance pathways to health studies, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence needed to embark on their healthcare journey.
The Aspire2Health workshops are the result of a collaborative effort among key stakeholders including TSBE, Check-Up, Griffith University, University of Southern Queensland, Darling Downs West Moreton PHN, Rural Medical Education Australia, Southern Queensland Rural Health, Queensland Ambulance Service and the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training.
This partnership underscores the community’s commitment to nurturing the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.
* For more information about the Aspire2Health program, workshop dates and enrolment details please visit ruralmeded.org.au/courses/aspire2health/
