The WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) of The University of Western Australia is delighted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Student Health Academy (SHA). Over the last decade over 600 high school students have participated in the program.
With workforce shortages across all health professions in rural areas, this innovative program introduces high school students from Geraldton and surrounding towns in the Midwest to the diverse and rewarding field of health careers.
The SHA is designed by a team of WACRH clinical academic staff and facilitated alongside allied health, nursing and medical students who are completing placements in the region, as well as health professionals from the community.
The SHA caters to all students, whether they are considering a general, VET, or ATAR pathway into a health career.
The high school students’ complete activities and challenges over two days to help solve health issues and gain real-world insights into working in a healthcare team.
In this year’s SHA, high school students were exposed to twenty health career options including: occupational therapy, social work, pharmacy, podiatry, optometry, speech pathology, mental health, allied health assistance, health promotion, dietetics, dental, medicine, nursing and Aboriginal health, to name a few.
"Over the past decade, the Student Health Academy has played a pivotal role in ensuring local young people know there are many career options to pursue in working in health,” says WACRH Senior Lecturer Kathryn Fitzgerald.
“When the high school students come to the SHA, they are often aware of a limited number of health professions and after attending they see many more options are available to them.”
“Over 98% of those who attended this year’s SHA said the program had helped them feel more confident in choosing a health career."
"We are thrilled to see the positive impact this program has had, not only in sparking interest in health careers but as part of WACRH’s aim to build a stronger, more sustainable future rural health workforce in our communities."
As the WA Centre for Rural Health mark this significant milestone, they remain committed to inspiring and supporting future generations of rural health professionals, helping to build a robust and resilient rural health workforce for years to come.