Metro North Hospital and Health Service will compete for the title of Queensland Large Employer of the Year next month, thanks to the success of our school-based traineeship program.
The prestigious state-wide training awards celebrate excellence in vocational education and training, with regional winners heading to the state finals next month. Metro North was recognised as Large Employer of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards North Coast region event.
Co-ordinator of Education and Youth Engagement, Kylie Boccuzzi, said being named Large Employer of the Year for our region was a huge accolade for the Youth Engagement Programs that include school-based traineeship program and a Healthcare Academy vocational pathway programs.
“Our school-based traineeship program supports high school students to earn vocational education qualifications in healthcare while working at Redcliffe, Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals, as well as our Community and Oral Health Directorate,” Ms Boccuzzi said. “We’ve been offering schools-based traineeships for 13 years. So far, we’ve helped 183 students to earn a qualification through a traineeship.
“In addition to this we have supported 45 students complete vocational qualifications in healthcare academy programs over the last three years.”
Ms Boccuzzi said that there were currently 49 school-based trainees and 42 Healthcare Academy students earning their qualifications at Metro North facilities in Moreton Bay and Brisbane’s northern suburbs.
“In 2019, we’ll be offering another 30 traineeships, and 40 Academy places in areas including Nursing, Aged Care, Business Administration, Allied Health Assistants, Dental Assisting, Patient Support Services and Recreational Officers.
“We’re really proud of our school-based trainees and academy students, and how many of them have launched their careers in healthcare after completing their qualifications with us,” Ms Boccuzzi said.
Siobhan Hayter graduated in 2016 with a Certificate III in Health Services Assistant and is now employed as an administration officer in the maternity ward at Caboolture Hospital.
The former Tullawong State High School student said her School Based Traineeship at Caboolture Hospital provided an array of opportunities for a future career in health.
“I was able to develop various skills and network with future colleagues and mentors in the profession of nursing and midwifery,” Siobhan said.
“Grasping these concepts early on not only allowed for me to secure a job within the hospital, but it made the transition from high-school to undergraduate study seamless.
“This kind of ‘real-world’ education is extremely rare and would not have been possible without my traineeship.”
Executive Director of Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospital, Dr Lance Le Ray said the youth engagement programs had strong support within the local community.
“We held a traineeship information session for Year 10 students recently at Caboolture and had around 450 people come along to find out more about the traineeships available,” Dr Le Ray said.
“From that one session, we’ve had around 200 school students register their interest in applying for one of the traineeships next year.
“It’s clear that there’s strong support and interest around these programs, and this award recognises that success,” Dr Le Ray said.