High school students kick-start nursing careers
02 March 2010
More than 30 forward-thinking high school students will finish Year 12 with a nationally-recognised nursing qualification and a few extra dollars in their pocket, thanks to a unique initiative available through Hunter New England Health.
This month, a record 35 students from across the Hunter New England Health region have signed up for the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Acute Care) traineeship, being offered as a joint venture between Hunter New England Health, TAFE and the Department of Education and Training.
The high school students will complete two years of part-time vocational education, completing theory components at TAFE and learning “on the job” at their local health service for a qualification which counts as credit towards their final HSC result. The students are paid for their work, which is supervised by experienced staff at each health service.
Hunter New England Health Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services Chris Kewley said the school-based traineeships would not only give students interested in nursing a head-start to their career but provide another avenue by which the health service can attract and retain nurses, particularly in regional communities.
“We are very pleased that this program is enabling school students to discover how fulfilling and rewarding a career in nursing can be,” Mr Kewley said.
“By providing the vocational education, Hunter New England Health is helping young people in our communities get a first-hand understanding of what a career in nursing has to offer, in the hope they’ll continue to pursue a nursing career once they’ve finished school. We view these traineeships as a way to ‘grow our own’ nurses.
“Interest in this course has grown among high schools in the region and this is a pleasing sign that we have a good reputation for providing a valuable training experience for students,” Mr Kewley said.
A number of school students have completed their traineeships across HNE Health in the past two years including at Walcha, Taree, Moree, Manilla, Inverell, Guyra, Wingham, Werris Creek and Quirindi. Many of them have decided to pursue a career in health, such as nursing or paramedic training.
For more information about to the program, and opportunities in your community please call Nurse Manager of Traineeships Martin Losurdo on (02)4924 6837.
Note to media: Photos and interviews with students and their managers are available on request. Students will be participating at health services in the following communities - Bingara, Cessnock, Dungog, Gloucester, Gunnedah, Guyra, Inverell, Kurri Kurri, Manilla, Taree, Merriwa, Singleton, Tamworth, Maitland, Walcha, Wallsend, Warialda, Wee Waa, Wingham and Newcastle at HNE Health Imaging and the Rankin Park Centre.
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: 0428 114 767