The 2022 school year is over, but hundreds of teens are already looking to 2023 to pursue dreams of medical careers through one innovative Sunshine Coast state college.
The new generation of prospective nurses, doctors, paramedics and allied health professionals is relishing a taste of the ‘real world’ of health and medicine and taking advantage of easier pathways to future roles.
Kawana Waters State College (KWSC) established its Health Education Unit or ‘health hub’ in 2017 and has continued to expand its facilities, as well as offerings to students Queensland-wide.
Head of Secondary campus Elena Gerbo said the initial unit was a simulation ward with state-of-the-art technology and a registered nurse/teacher providing students with the opportunity to engage in ground-breaking health courses.
A collaborative agreement was established with 12 other public, private and independent schools in the North Coast and Brisbane region, allowing a total of 107 students to partially enrol and benefit that first year.
Ms Gerbo said that in 2020, the Health Education Hub doubled its facilities, prompting a further 105 student enrolments, participation by another three schools, plus an increase in staffing in nursing, paramedics, midwifery and pharmacy.
That allowed the Medical Immersion Program to be introduced that same year: a three-day camp for Year 10 and 11 students.
This focused camp offers students an opportunity to immerse themselves in medical professions, clinically and theoretically, understand career pathways and application processes, and meet like-minded students.
“The Medical Immersion Program has seen 35-40 students each year. The Health Education Unit started with 15 students and currently has 300 students enrolled,” Ms Gerbo said.
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“Last year, the Health Education Hub allowed students to complete triple certificate qualifications to specialise in the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (in patient care), allowing them to commence a Certificate III in Assistant in Nursing.
“We also pioneered the Remote Health Education Program whereby 50 students in Rockhampton and Mackay engaged in online learning, using our staff for regular face to face delivery, receiving qualifications from our Health Education Unit.
“Additionally, we provided a differentiated suite of modules catering for the growing disability sector, specified by community organisations such as House With No Steps and the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme).
“We introduced the Certificate III in Individual Support to support students moving into this field.”
Deputy principal Chloe Brown said the Bokarina-based school had made a deliberate plan, based on employment projections and close proximity to the health precinct and university, to invest in and skill human resources while also developing important community partnerships in the medical fields.
She said a new simulated health space was under construction and students could expect to enter the simulated home and ‘wet area’ in the new year.
“This space, like the simulated emergency ward, will give students further opportunity to be immersed in health settings,” she said.
“We have found these real-life spaces really transform the learning experiences and make the transition to the workforce more seamless for our students.
“We want to be educating in viable pathways to ensure that students have multiple avenues to enter once they have completed schooling.
“Partnerships have been formed with our amazing community as they see the value in the educational offerings that we have created.
“We are very open and always request community consultation to ensure that we offer the right types of opportunities for students.
“Ninety per cent of exiting students (since 2017) have landed a role as an Assistant in Nursing.
“All students that have completed the Certificate III Health Services Assistant that have applied for early-entry to university have been successful in gaining a position.”
KWSC also brokered a partnership with CheckUp: an Education Queensland not-for-profit organisation partnering with health providers to reduce health inequities in rural and remote communities which will ensure students have greater employment options once they finish their courses.
“The health care and social assistance sector continues to be the largest employing industry throughout Australia,” Ms Gerbo said.
“With over 1.8 million people already employed in this sector and with a projected growth of a further 14 per cent over the next five years, it’s a no brainer that KWSC continues to find opportunities to deliver innovative and quality programs to support this growth sector.”
For more information on the Health Education Unit, contact Ms Brown at cbrow361@eq.edu.au. For the Medical Immersion Program applications, contact Ms Gerbo at egerb1@eq.edu.au.
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