Wellington Point State High School students were given a hands-on introduction to healthcare careers during a special visit to Redland Hospital recently.
Students Eve, Tara and Erica enjoyed the day immensely.
“There was a lot of information about different pathways available to enter the health sector, you don’t just have to go through university,” they said. “It was so great to be encouraged to have a go at things,” Erica said.
Eve said it was nice to see how many jobs there are.
“Every role from the cleaner to doctors and nurses is important,” she said.
The students rotated through practical workshops including basic life support, maternity care, information on allied health professions like speech and occupational therapy as well as physiotherapy.
The group also toured operational areas to learn more about essential support roles such as environmental services, maintenance, and safety.
Assistant Manager Food Services Grace Sasis summed the day up.
“No matter where you work in a hospital, you can witness hope, courage and transformation and students can be a part of that,” she said.
Executive Director Greg Nolan said the event helped connect students with the wide range of healthcare careers on offer.
“It’s always a pleasure to open our doors to the next generation of workers and we're genuinely excited to see them,” he said. “Many of our staff started with a spark of interest from days like this, we have nurses who started with a certificate and have gone on to graduate and work for us today.
“Students got to ask questions, try things out, and see how different professions work together in a real hospital setting.”
Wellington Point State High School’s Head of Senior School Kim Herholdt said the day was a remarkable opportunity for students.
“It opens their eyes to all of the possibilities in the health industry,” she said. “Even though students have knowledge of the roles available in the health sector, such as nursing, they don’t understand what this means on a day-to-day basis.
“There are so many different avenues they can take, and our students rarely get a chance to do hands-on activities, so this is just unbelievable, and it inspires them to want to help other people.”