Kimberley students get set for healthy careers thanks to country health collaboration

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is helping Kimberley students develop into the healthcare workers of the future, thanks to an innovative hands-on partnership.

The collaboration between Broome Health Campus and Insight Training Services provides pre-traineeship placements for students working towards a Certificate II in Community Health and Well Being.

The course puts students on a fast track to careers in allied health, Aboriginal primary health, environmental health, aged care and disability and community care.

Over 15 weeks, students rotate through hospital wards, outpatient clinics, allied health teams, community health and remote area nurses.

St Mary’s College student Tyler Waina and seven students from Broome Senior High School, recently followed the daily activities of a diverse range of specialists including speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers.

Acting Executive Director Kimberley Chris Hart said the program had been extremely popular with staff and students alike.

“This is a great opportunity for students to see up close how our hospitals and health sites work and really get a feel for what it’s like to care for people in their community.

“They can interact with staff and patients across a broad range of services and see where they might like to focus their future studies,” Mr Hart said.

“It also gives our staff a chance to spend some one-on-one time with students, share their experiences and help these kids to understand how rewarding a healthcare career can be”.