The Dungog High School year 11 student has joined 35 students from across the Hunter New England region who have signed up for the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Acute Care) traineeship, being offered as a joint venture between Hunter New England Health, TAFE and the Department of Education and Training.

Emma will complete two years of part-time vocational education, completing theory components at TAFE via conferencing at Dungog High and learning on the job.

“Careers advisor at school Ms Smith knew I was interested in nursing and told me about this course,” Emma, 17, said.

“I was involved in the adopt a resident at Lara Aged Care for a couple of years and love working with the oldies.

“I really enjoy doing this at the hospital, I get to watch the RNs (registered nurses), take patients’ blood pressure and help when I can.

“When I finish in two years, I will be able to get a job and maybe even go on and get more qualifications.”

Emma’s qualification will count as credit towards her final HSC result and she is paid for her work, which is supervised by experienced staff at the hospital.

Hunter New England Health Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services Chris Kewley said the school-based traineeships would not only give students interested in nursing a head-start to their career but provide another avenue by which the health service can attract and retain nurses, particularly in regional communities.

“We are very pleased that this program is enabling school students to discover how fulfilling and rewarding a career in nursing can be,” Mr Kewley said.

“By providing the vocational education, Hunter New England Health is helping young people in our communities get a first-hand understanding of what a career in nursing has to offer, in the hope they’ll continue to pursue a nursing career once they’ve finished school. We view these traineeships as a way to ‘grow our own’ nurses.”