East Gippsland Regional Clinical School has hosted an information night for Koori students interested in a career in the health sector.

The evening in early August included a discussion forum on pathways and support for careers in Medicine, Nursing and other Health Professions.

The forum at the School’s Bairnsdale campus was highly successful, with 19 attendees, including community members and representatives from many key organisations. The event opened with a welcome by Uncle Albert Mullett, followed by a presentation by Doris Paton and Debra Blaber. They highlighted findings from their research into identifying ways in which more local Aboriginal people could work in the health sector.

The steering committee and instigators for this research were the East Gippsland School for Aboriginal Health Professionals (EGSAHP), with support from the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School, local secondary colleges, especially the local Koori Engagement Support Officers (KESOs), students and parents. This project evolved from community members recognising a need in the community.

The research was undertaken in East Gippsland, with surveys conducted at Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance Secondary Colleges. Parents and families also contributed by participating in focus groups or interviews, with a total of 98 people taking part.

The research highlighted the need to raise awareness of careers in the health profession, to identify role models for students in the community, to offer work experience at local health services, as well as providing useful and timely information about health courses and university entry requirements.

While it was said that there should be no barriers to Koori students completing school and pursuing further studies, the research showed that lack of transport, peer pressure, teacher attitudes, financial issues, as well as family support and stability, were all issues for students.

This research and the forum provided an opportunity for EGSAHP, the health services, schools, agencies, parents and community to work collaboratively to improve outcomes. The findings will now provide a direction and way forward for EGSAHP.

–       By Eleanor Mitchell, Lecturer, East Gippsland Regional Clinical School and Department of Rural and Indigenous Health, Monash University

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 at 4:27 pm and is filed under Community engagement, East Gippsland RCS, Public. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.