A new intake of Deadly Start Trainees commenced this week with Metro South Health welcoming 27 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Year 11 students and one year 12 from all over the catchment to advance into a career in health.
Manager Human Resources Governance, Renee Staats said the success of the 2023 Deadly Start Program in Metro South Health enabled an additional eight students from a total of 17 schools to embark on their Certificate III in Health Support Services this year through a placement at Princess Alexandra, QEII or Logan Hospital.
“This is a great opportunity for the students to be introduced for one day per week over the coming 12 months to interesting areas of the hospital such as ward nursing as an AIN, physiotherapy assistant in rehabilitation, pharmacy assistant, human resources generalist and recruitment, and operational services,” Renee said.
“It is also a great opportunity for our staff to inspire the next generation of healthcare workers through this program.”
The partnership with Connect’n’Grow Training Hub at Sunnybank State High School and St. James College Spring Hill has already supported the students through their Certificate II in Health Support Services which provides exciting career options in health such as nursing, allied health, administration, and operational support.
Connect’n’Grow was founded in 2012 with the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by connecting schools, businesses, and individuals to give every person that aspires to a successful career in health and social service the opportunity. Growing these connections will help increase Australia’s health workforce substantially.
Deadly Start trainee, Abbey is excited to be placed in nursing at Logan Hospital where she hopes to follow in the footsteps of her mum by becoming a great nurse one day.
“The opportunity to learn from nurses during school with a foot in the door at the hospital is a great start for my career in health,” Abbey said. “My mum worked in palliative care and community nursing at a GP clinic garnering respect from the community which really motivated me to do nursing.
“The stories she came home with really got me excited to pursue nursing.”
Maddison is placed at PA Hospital and has a plan in place to complete the Deadly Start Program, and study to become a registered nurse or midwife.
“I had no idea how many opportunities there are in health, you really only think about the main ones like nursing so the program has already opened my mind to what I can expect working in the hospital.”
This second intake in Metro South Health is an increase of eight on last year with Deadly Start trainees placed at Logan Hospital, Redland Hospital, QEII Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Community and Oral Health Services (Primary Health Care).
Renee said this intake is significant for Metro South Health given we are the first to offer a traineeship in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care.
“Last year, Metro South Health was the first to place two Deadly Start Trainees in Pharmacy (at PAH), so it is very exciting for us to be the first to offer this placement in Primary Health Care that is directly serving the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” she said.
“We are committed to growing employment, training and career development opportunities for First Nations people so that our workforce can accurately reflect the community we treat with the benefit of more culturally accessible healthcare.”
She said students were placed at either QEII or PA Hospital last year based on their preference, so for those line managers who missed out, it is exciting to place students in all our hospitals in this latest intake.
The Metro South Health Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy is focused on improving employment opportunities, connecting communities, supporting future leaders, and achieving an inclusive culture and leadership.
More here: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy | Metro South Health