HIGH school students are taking a day away from the classroom each week to gain “real world” experience and be part of the paid workforce.
It’s part of a new pilot program that launched this year allowing northern suburbs students to undertake paid work placement at Joondalup Health Campus.
The students from Ocean Reef High School, Landsdale Christian School and Dianella Secondary College are employed by Health Training Australia and trained by AMA Training Services.
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READ NOWAMA Vocational Education and Training (VET) general manager Jan Norberger said the program meant four students could complete a Certificate III in Health Support Services over 18 months, with theory taught in school and practical at the hospital.
“The health industries are huge growth sectors and getting the younger generation to take an interest in career opportunities in health is very important to us,” he said.
Ocean Reef VET and work placement coordinator Maggie Glover said the students found the placement rewarding and like the fact they were being paid for gaining experience in how a hospital is run.
“They are learning how to be part of a team, in a large organisation, in the real world,” she said.
“The students are placed in different sections in the hospital and they are involved in practical hands-on tasks.”
