THIS year’s annual work placements went off without a hitch, with seven students selected to conduct their placements at the Broken Hill Health Service.
The Far West Local Health District, Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health, and Willyama High School have been working in collaboration for six years to ensure local kids can begin their health careers early on.
The placements are observational and last two weeks, exposing students to a variety of wards and departments, from surgery to speech pathology and medical imaging.
BHUDRH education support officer Rachel Lysaght organises the placements with students and FWLHD staff.
Ms Lysaght said that seven students each year participate in the program for their work placement in year 10, most aged 16, with three in nursing and four in allied health.
“In the allied health roster there is a rotation, so the kids get to experience lots of different areas throughout that two-week period,” she said.
Ms Lysaght said that the program helps with providing healthcare workers for the community into the future.
“It’s that retention that we’re after; get them into the field, have a look at it, see if they like it,” she said.
“Most of them do come back and enrol as enrolled or registered nurses.
“Which is fantastic. That’s what we like. That’s what we’re after.
“I love it when I see their names coming in years later, you’re like ‘oh well you were just in year 10 five years ago and look at you now!’”.
