Summary
- TCHHS is continuing its commitment to ‘grow our own’ by providing more opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and graduates to join the Health Service.
- Opportunities include graduate programs, clinical student placements, cadetships, school-based traineeships and work experience programs.
TCHHS is continuing its commitment to ‘grow our own’ by providing more opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and graduates to join the Health Service.
TCHHS has partnered with James Cook University and other training institutions to highlight the breadth of health careers available across the Torres and Cape region.
Opportunities include graduate programs, clinical student placements, cadetships, school-based traineeships and work experience programs.
Students can work at Thursday Island Hospital, Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service and Weipa Integrated Health Service.
2024 graduate registered nurse, Gwendolyn Gorogo, chose to work at Thursday Island Hospital because of the feeling of community and belonging.
“During my nursing degree I did a rural placement in the Northern Territory which I really enjoyed. It was here that I first heard about Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service’s graduate program.
“It was during my cadetship with the Deadly Ears program that I got to visit Thursday Island, and I loved the people and experience. This reinforced my decision that rural nursing is what I want to do.
“I feel like I’m part of the community, whereas in city nursing I felt like just a number” she said.
TCHHS Acting Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Services Jacob Walsh said working in rural and remote settings provides clinicians with a unique opportunity to quickly develop a wide range of skills.
He said in addition to professional development, TCHHS provides an environment where graduates are supported through different clinical rotations, including acute and emergency departments.
“Graduates will be mentored throughout their rotations to help them transition from university.
“Our staff really value the contribution they make.
“Rotations also provide graduates with the opportunity to apply the skills they learned at university, which leads to improved patient outcomes.
“There is also the sense of community that comes with working in a close-knit environment, especially in our rural and remote locations.”
TCHHS Chief Executive Rex O’Rourke said it was wonderful to see new graduates from the Torres, Northern Peninsula Area, and Cape region joining the Health Service.
“We are passionate about delivering culturally respectful care closer to home. And we know that our communities want to see more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in our Health Service.
“TCHHS partners with local training providers and the Department of Health to offer scholarships and traineeships which encourage local students to begin a health- related career.
“For example, the Queensland Health Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Scholarship available at James Cook University assists current and aspiring First Nations students living in the Torres and Cape region to complete an undergraduate health-related degree.
“And the Deadly Start school-based traineeships support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to complete traineeships at Thursday Island Hospital, Bamaga Hospital, Weipa Integrated Health Service and Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service.
“In addition to this, we offer work experience opportunities so students can decide if a career in health is right for them.
“With these initiatives, TCHHS is supporting students, their families and local communities, as well as addressing the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals.”
For information about graduate opportunities and student placements, go to the TCHHS Careers page.
Details on work experience and school-based traineeships, including the ‘Deadly Start’ program is available by contacting tchhs-traineeships@health.qld.gov.au .
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cadetships, contact QHcadetship@health.qld.gov.au.