Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service chief executive Rex O’Rourke, Kowanyama student Jeremiah Michael, Coen student Jaime Pratt and AFL Cape York general manager Rick Hanlon. Photo: Supplied.
Young people from Cape York and the Torres Strait will soon take advantage of a new partnership between two prominent organisations, which is creating pathways into healthcare careers.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) and AFL Cape York have joined forces to back up students considering working in healthcare and provide them with personalised support.
TCHHS workers from specialties including nursing and allied health will deliver career, as well as health advice, to kids living at AFL Cape York’s girls and boys boarding houses, and at carnivals.
The health service is also the main sponsor for AFL’s Pacific Nations Cup, which will bring 300 football players from across the Pacific together at Cairns in September.
Rex O’Rourke, TCHHS chief executive, said the partnership was a natural fit for the organisations – both of which are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of First Nations people.
“As a health service, we are focused on growing our own workforce by creating pathways for young people across Cape York, the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area,” he said.
The partnership will mean more locals working in health in their communities. Pictured is Weipa hospital. Photo: Supplied.
“This partnership allows us to engage early, build understanding of health and wellbeing and support students to pursue careers within their own communities.
“For those interested in a career in health, we can provide practical pathways including work experience and Deadly Start traineeships, strengthening our workforce and long-term outcomes for the region.
“We are also proud to be the main sponsor of the Pacific Nations Cup and recognise the positive impact AFL Cape York has across the region.”
Boarding house student Jaime Pratt from Coen has her sights set on a career in health, following in her mum, grandmother and uncle’s footsteps.
The Year 12 Cairns High School student has been doing a traineeship with TCHHS and plans to study nursing, and potentially psychiatry.
“My grandmother, my uncles and my mother have all worked for Queensland Health and my mother is currently the manager of the Coen Primary Health Care Centre so working in health is in my family,” she said.
“I’m looking at universities at the moment and am hoping to go into nursing first.
“My main reason for wanting to go into psychiatry though is because I know mental health in the Cape and Torres Strait is an issue and I really want to make a difference.”
AFL Cape York general manager Rick Hanlon said his team was focused on creating opportunities for Indigenous kids and the partnership would assist.
“When we first opened the boys boarding house in 2013, it has always been about providing these kids opportunities for education and growth,” he said.
“We know how much harder it is for students in remote areas to pursue careers, or even just to know what options are available to them and by having TCHHS staff be able to speak to them directly is going to be so significant.
“A lot of these young people would not even know what jobs like podiatrists or physiotherapists do, so this is just going to open up even more doors.
“We thank TCHHS for being part of this partnership and for their sponsorship of the Pacific Nations Cup and look forward to building a partnership into the future.”
