Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are being encouraged to make an early start towards a career in healthcare.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service has partnered with CQUniversity and Australian Training Works with support from Northern Queensland Primary Health Network to recruit Year 11 students to a school-based traineeship in 2021.
The program has been named Budyubari Bidyiri Kebi Stapal, which translates to Big Dream, Small Steps.
Chief Executive Jo Whitehead said the program would allow students to achieve healthcare qualifications while they were still at school.
Ms Whitehead said the health service was committed to employing more staff who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
About 2% of the workforce currently identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
“We want to increase that to 5% to be in line with the proportion of the wider health service community that identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander,” she said.
Ms Whitehead said having more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff was important to improve the health service’s cultural capability to support patients.
“We want to engage a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Investing in our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce will also support our Close the Gap initiatives.
“By providing a culturally supported and structured health career pathway we hope to grow a sustainable workforce as well as improve improving education outcomes for young people,” she said.
The name was chosen in consultation with Traditional Custodian Elders and local Torres Strait Island Elders.
Budyubari Bidyiri (Big Dream) in Yuwi language, Kebi (Small) from Eastern Torres Strait dialect and Stepal (Step) Western Torres Strait dialect.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Program Officer Bevan Little said the program would support students to transition from school to work or higher studies.
Mr Little said the health service and CQU would aim to visit 13 secondary schools in Mackay, Sarina, Mirani and Calen this term to promote the program for 2021.
There are 15 positions available with placements at Mackay Base Hospital in nursing, medical imaging, clinical measurements and support services.
“The students will spend Term 1 and 2 studying a Certificate II in Health Support Services at CQUniversity’s Clinical Learning Space and then start their hospital placement in Term 3,” Mr Little said.
CQUniversity Associate Vice-President NQ and Hinterland, Pierre Viljoen said the University was thrilled to be a partner of the program.
“CQUniversity is proud to be recognised as Australia’s most inclusive university with the highest ratio of students from disadvantaged, mature age, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and first-in-family backgrounds,” Professor Viljoen said.
“This inclusive approach and commitment to access and participation shows that the University defines itself by who it embraces, rather than who it excludes, and we are overjoyed to be able to work with Mackay Hospital and Health Services on this wonderful project.”
Successful applicants will be employed as School Based Trainees to commence either a Certificate III in Health Services Assistant or Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance and undertake 50 days of paid employment in period of July 2021 – July 2022.
“We’re asking students to commit to one day a week of paid employment and block training during the school holidays for a total of 50 days,” he said.
