High school students have been exploring several health occupations during an immersive program in Burnie.
The Year 9 Health Careers workshop is presented annually by the University of Tasmania’s Rural Clinical School (RCS).
The day-long program was held on Wednesday, 26 June, exposing students to their careers of choice, through hands-on activities allowing them to practise skills typical to several professions.
Students participated in exercises that included taking blood, making hand cream, exploring laparoscopic techniques in an operating theatre scenario, vascular foot assessments and performing basic life support.
Dr Lizzi Shires, Director of the RCS, said underpinning the program was an aim to provide students with a pre-career experience.
“Usually students who participate in this workshop already know they want to pursue a health career, but are still undecided about which one,” Dr Shires said.
“Throughout the day, they rotate several career stations where they take part in practical exercises, giving them a better idea of what each occupation involves.
“Importantly, they receive mentorship from health professionals, educators and university students which further enhances their overall experience.
“We hope the workshop provides them with a clear understanding of the many health careers they can forge here on the Coast, and what steps they can take to achieve their professional goals.”
Students experienced occupations across physiotherapy, oral health, podiatry, nutrition and dietetics, speech pathology, optometry, emergency care nursing, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, environmental health, social work, paramedics, health information management, maternity nursing, theatre nursing, medicine, community nursing, medical/surgical nursing, pathology and psychology.
Around 70 aspiring health professionals attended the Burnie event.
The program will also be delivered at the RCS Mersey campus on Friday, 5 July.