Last week 14 students from Canobolas High School received an insight into a what a career in rural health is like, participating in the Health Career Academy Program (HACP) run by University of Sydney School of Rural Health.

The students toured Dudley Private Hospital, as well as the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS) before completing a clinical skills session at the School of Rural Health campus at Bloomfield.

HCAP was developed to introduce secondary school students to health careers and encourage health career aspirations and attainment. The program has been designed for students to gain valuable insights into career opportunities, professional pathways, and locations of service delivery.

University of Sydney School of Rural Health, Community Engagement Officer, Kathryn Nadan said, “It’s a program which has been operating in the far west for 10-12 years, and today was the pilot program for this area- it went really well.

“It’s all about building aspirations towards health careers, it’s also about seating and growing our own local health professionals. It’s workforce development especially for regional and remote areas.”

We caught up with 17-year-old Kimberly Kiel who is planning a career in the Rural Health Sector when she leaves school.

“I’ve always had this passion for nursing so when I was given this opportunity through the Health Career Academy Program I was like oh my goodness let’s do this!

“Getting to walk through both Dudley Hospital and the Aboriginal Medical Centre, I really have this broad understanding of what pathways I can go through and how I can achieve these things. With the help of Katherine, she has also provided the education through which I can help the indigenous community as well.”

“We were shown around the medical practices and demonstrated what processes they do to care for the community and what pathways you can go through to actually work in these careers. Its been really educational and amazing to learn.

“Something that I learnt today was the sheer importance of being a part of the medical team in this area and how important it is to the community. I haven’t quite figured out exactly what I would like to do after school though Paramedics or nursing is on the cards, I’m certain.”