Four Cobram Secondary College Year 11 students were recognised on Wednesday, November 30 for their participation in the inaugural Health, Disability and Aged Care Skilled Pathway Program.
The four female students took part in the program, run by Partners in Training Australia and Industry Training Hubs, which was designed to prepare students for vocational pathways and further study in the health, aged care, community services and disability sector.
It was designed to give students the opportunity to complete accredited training while developing workplace skills and experience.
They learnt, among other things, senior first aid, infection control, how to be a support person for people with disabilities, as well as various communication methods used in aged care facilities.
The students were able to spend time working at Cobram Regional Care, with some industry visits to NCN Health Cobram.
The program allowed the four students to gain accredited VET units that can be used as direct credits into various health-related courses.
Cobram Secondary College careers co-ordinator and Victorian Assessment Software System administrator Maria Hart said the students’ participation in the program would make them more “job ready”.
“By undertaking this program our students gained a wide range of industry skills and links to local employers and community groups in a sector where there are vast skills shortages,” Mrs Hart said.
Manaia Horne was one of the students who took part.
With ideas of becoming a registered nurse or midwife, Manaia saw the program as an opportunity to explore her potential future career.
“Just to experience and having an insight and what I could potentially go into in the future,” Manaia said.
She said a desire to help people had drawn her to the health sector.
“I like the idea of being able to save people's lives and being able to be a potential fix to someone's problems,” Manaia said.
For Manaia, the highlight of her experiences was getting to know the people she was taking care of and listening to their stories.
The Year 11 student had nothing but praise for the course and those who ran it.
“I do recommend the program to other people,” Manaia said.
“If you want insight on what you could potentially do in the future, then it'd be a very good aspect to look into.”
As for the feedback from the program’s providers, Mrs Hart said it was positive.
“I think the program has been a success,” she said.
“We are hoping to run a similar program again next year.”