Day about attracting medical heath allies

STUDENTS from four Bendigo high schools were joined by peers from Maryborough as they recently got a chance to learn more about careers in allied health professions last week.

More than 120 year 9s, 10s, and 11s attended come and try day at La Trobe Bendigo’s Tech School.

Year 12 Catherine McAuley student Ben Reid said he has a part-time role as a rehab porter at Bendigo Health.

“Growing up you think it’s nurses and doctors the whole time but no, you realise it’s so much beyond that, he said.

“It’s kind of exciting to see that there’s kind of a career for everyone at the hospital if they choose to pursue it.”

Fellow Catherine McAuley year 11 student Jaclyn McNutt said she had been looking into possible careers in health and the come and try day experience had helped.

“I haven’t really found what I’ve been looking for yet, but today’s definitely opened my eyes to all the different options that are there,” she said.

“I think it’s good to hear how they came to find their role, like some of them didn’t just leave school and that’s what they went for, they had to go through different stages to find that’s what they actually had a passion for.”

Representative from Bendigo Health, Sarah Gallagher, said part of the organisation’s data showed between eight and 10 per cent of allied health positions within the Loddon Mallee were vacant recently.

“We’ve got data from the Government that tells us that in the next five years the demand we have for services, 10 of our allied health disciplines are in above-average demand, said Ms Gallagher.

“We just don’t have enough students coming through to fill that yet.”

Bendigo Tech School head of programs Ember Chittenden said the day was about showing links between industry, healthcare, and education to help inform students about possible career pathways.

“What we really love is it’s an opportunity for young people to actually speak with local clinicians as well and to break down those barriers so that they can engage in those activities,” she said.

“But also just build that relationship and those connections early on, and ask the questions that sometimes the teachers mightn’t have the answers to or that mightn’t even pop into their head.

“It’s around providing opportunities to grow and reach and impact our local community.”

Along with Catherine McAuley College, students came from Bendigo South East College, Girton Grammar School, DOXA School Bendigo, and Maryborough’s Highview College.