More than 100 Central Queensland and Wide Bay high school students swapped their class schedules for clinical simulations in October, when they partook in the half day medical education program “Destination Doctor”.
The events were delivered as part of the Regional Medical Pathway, a collaboration between CQUniversity Australia, The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School (UQRCS) and the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services.
The program has been specifically designed for Year 10 students considering a career in medicine, and gives them hands-on learning experiences, while being guided and mentored by doctors, medical staff, and current students from the Regional Medical Pathway Program.
Students participated in a series of activities including blood typing, CPR, ECG, airway management and anatomy.
Yeppoon State High School student, Sterling Stevens says that this experience has opened his eyes the possibilities in medicine.
“My dad is a paramedic, so being in the medical job has given me a jump start to pursing a medical career".
The event, Sterling says, has confirmed his desires to work towards a career in medicine.
UQ Regional Training Hub Central Queensland Head, Associate Professor Sneha Kirubakaran stresses the importance of offering these events to regional and rural high school students.
“These events help students plan, dream and envision a potential future in medicine.
“Offering these types of clinical experiences to regional and rural high school students helps lessen the disparities in opportunities available to urban schools.
“We know that to build a future regional rural medical workforce, one of the key ingredients local from the community.
“High school students interested in medicine, who have already had an experience of living, working and socialising in a rural or regional setting are more likely stay working in regional and rural settings.
“It’s so important to inspire these kids, and let them know that they can be part of the solution to our workforce shortage,” Dr Kirubakaran said.
