North-West high school students keen to forge a future career in health have been practising the skills used by professionals working in the sector.
The University of Tasmania’s Rural Clinical School (RCS) presented its annual Practical Skills Workshop in Burnie and Mersey during May.
With the guidance of RCS staff, students and health workers, participants performed CPR in an emergency scenario and learnt how to take blood in a simulated setting.
Other activities saw them conducting eye examinations, operating a defibrillator, facilitating blood pressure checks and using stethoscopes to hear the human heart.
A Sherlock Holmes-inspired activity challenged students to make a medical diagnosis by piecing together clues from x-rays and charts.
Dr Lizzi Shires, Director of the RCS, said the program provided students with early exposure to the clinical environment.
“The workshops immerse the year 10 students in realistic medical settings where they can begin to think like a health professional, problem solve and learn about the importance of teamwork,” Dr Shires said.
“Part of the program is also aimed at providing participants with course advice and guidance on how they can work towards their future career goals.
“To support this, local college students shared their experiences of transitioning to Year 11, and feedback from previous years shows participants greatly value this opportunity.”
Around 50 students attended each workshop.
