Kawana State College students have their finger on the pulse when it comes to accelerating a career in health.
The high school’s “health hub” offers students hands-on experience in a simulated ward, with tutelage by real nurses, paramedics and midwives.
“The students go in and assess the patient based on the symptoms they are displaying,” said head of VET department Chloe Brown, explaining the kind of skills practiced on the ward.
“They learn how to insert a cannula, do CPR, take blood pressure, dressing wounds, infection control.”
Like this story? Get more just like it direct to your inbox by subscribing to our free daily news feed: Go to SUBSCRIBE at top of this article to register
The health hub has been part of the curriculum for three years and is open to students from 15 public and private schools who train once a week.
Ms Brown said training on a simulated ward under the guidance of real health professionals made students “work ready” by offering practical experience in the industry.
Many students found casual jobs in health while still at school in industries like aged care and casual shifts working with paramedics.
Ms Brown said students could achieve three qualifications:
- Certificate II Health Support Services: To work in an assistant role in health, aged and residential care or for further studies.
- Certificate II Community Service: For a job as an assistant community services worker in a range of settings.
- Certificate III Health Services Assistance: To assist is various healthcare settings such as nursing support and personal care services.
They could also opt to spend another six months obtaining an Assistants in Nursing qualification which helped with jobs in age care.
The health hub has been so successful it will soon be available online to students in central Queensland.
Midwife Julie Tickle said she was thrilled to be soon delivering the virtual health training which she said the was the first of its kind in Australia.
“I am a trained midwife/registered nurse and have been in the health industry since I was a teenager working in the local aged care home during high school,” she said.
“I am passionate about health education and getting students out of the normal classroom setting and into hands on practical scenarios.”
Enrolments are accepted from grades 10 and 11 and courses were completed before Year 12 to ensure the critical senior year is not impacted.
Ms Brown said only students with a keen desire for a health job were accepted and about 200 students obtained the qualifications each year.
The the qualifications also assist with gaining entry in tertiary courses such as a Bachelor of Paramedic Services, Bachelor of Nursing and Diploma of Nursing.
