July 20, 2021
South Burnett high school students who have expressed an interest in a career as a health worker received some hands-on experience on Tuesday thanks to a special Aspire 2 Health day at Griffith University’s Kingaroy Hospital campus.
The sixteen Year 10 students, from Kingaroy, Nanango and Murgon State high schools and St Mary’s Catholic College, had the opportunity to learn a little bit more about various facets of careers in health.
They participated in an emergency simulation with paramedics, nurses and doctors as well as hands-on workshops.
The students were split into groups and rotated around a number of mini workshops, covering CPR and resuscitation; suturing; pharmacy medicine and plastering.
A strap-on “empathy belly” allowed students to experience “pregnancy” – or at least how uncomfortable it can be in the latter stages!
There was also a blood pressure station, testing the students before and after exercise.
The day gave the students an opportunity to meet and talk to local health care students and professionals.
Aspire 2 Health is a collaboration between Southern Queensland Rural Health, Griffith University, the University of Southern Queensland Rural Clinical School, Queensland University, the Queensland Ambulance Service and the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training – Darling Downs South West region.
The annual event was originally held in Toowoomba, but several years ago a decision was made to take the experience on the road to reach out to more rural students.
Medical students from Griffith and UQ supervised the activities, along with staff from Southern Queensland Rural Health and the QAS.
