Gippsland students encouraged to take a local healthcare career

MORE than 70 local school students from across Gippsland including Bass Coast and South Gippsland took part in a health camp to explore different options and pathways for a career in Gippsland’s health sector.

The Local Learning & Employment Network (LLEN) together with local business and health organisations supported the two-day event by facilitating walk-throughs of hospitals and clinics, and mentoring students with some of Gippsland’s health industry professionals.

Ian Whitehead CEO of Latrobe Health Services, Gippsland’s not-for-profit health insurer and owner of Maryvale Private Hospital, said ongoing challenges in recruitment and retention of health professionals in Gippsland makes engagement with local students essential for the future of our health care workforce in Gippsland.

“Gippsland is not immune to the workforce shortages of health care professionals we see more broadly across many regional communities. Engaging with the students in our region today and supporting them to take up careers and options locally is an important step for developing our workforce,” Mr Whitehead said.

LLEN Health Camp organiser Lisa Price said is not always easy for students to be able to undertake a work placement in a health setting, so the health camp provided students with a mix of hands-on activities, industry visits and the opportunity to engage with health professionals over dinner. “Our current focus is to strengthen the connection between schools and industry to help students develop a pathway from school into further study or employment.

“We know that there is currently, and will be into the future, strong interest for people to work in the health sector across a variety of roles which is what we wanted to nurture. Having a locally grown workforce means that people are more likely to stay in the region and so encouraging students to see opportunities for careers locally is very important,” Ms Price said.

The Health Camp is a partnership between the Baw Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN, Federation University and TAFE Gippsland and is sponsored by Latrobe Health Assembly, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Latrobe Health Services, Latrobe Valley Authority, Gippsland Primary Health Network, Monash Rural Health and Rural Workforce Agency Victoria.