Secondary students from schools in the Greater Dandenong area have been exposed to opportunities within the health care profession in the latest iteration of Hands on Health.
The week-long experiential program at Monash Health's Dandenong Hospital is designed to open students' minds to the potential of tertiary education in health care professions, with the ultimate objective of providing a workforce of the future to meet the needs of marginalised communities around Dandenong.
20 students have undertaken the two programs delivered during June, and another 50 students will participate in coming weeks.
At program commencement, students are issued with a special 'uniform' along with a stethoscope that identifies them as Hands on Health participants. During the week at Dandenong Hospital they are mentored by Monash University medical students and work alongside Monash Health practitioners. Interacting with real patients while on ward rounds with doctors is a highlight of the program that emphasises the reality of delivering health care to the diverse communities in the region.
Insights into social work, radiography and physiotherapy are provided by hospital staff who explain the many varied aspects of their work in the environment where such services are actually delivered.
"Students have gained practical experience in CPR, hand hygiene, taking blood, plastering and orthopedics," said clinical site administrator, Gina van de Berg. "They learn how to give an injection, how to use an EpiPen auto-injector, how a stethoscope is used. Familiarisation with blood pressure monitors and thermometers is a highlight of the program, and these are linked with checking patients' vital signs."
The biggest problem with this work experience component of Hands on Health is time according to program manager Julia Watts. "Students love the week long experience, and gain a valuable insight into medical care operations and infrastructure, but they wish it could be longer," Ms Watts said. "A number of participants have requested to spend the entire semester at Dandenong Hospital."
"What's important is that the students feel that the program not only motivates them to put in the extra work at school, but also provides them with an insight into many different career opportunities within medicine that they were previously unaware of", added Ms van de Berg.
"What's important is that the students feel that the program not only motivates them to put in the extra work at school, but also provides them with an insight into many different career opportunities within medicine that they were previously unaware of", added Ms van de Berg.
Recognised as possibly the best initiative of its kind in the world, Hands on Health involves academic coaching, career counselling and mentoring from tertiary students, often by students who similarly faced challenges with university entry. Several hundred secondary students have gone on to gain entry into university and TAFE assisted by their involvement in Hands on Health.
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