Summary
- New partnership to inspire health careers and wellbeing
- Practical support and mentorship
- Positive impact for local young people.
A new partnership between Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service and AFL Cape York is going to open up career and health opportunities for young people across the region.
The two organisations have joined forces to support students from Cape York, the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area who may be considering careers in health and provide them with health and wellbeing support.
Health staff from a range of areas including nursing and allied health will deliver career and health advice to students residing at AFL Cape York’s girls and boys boarding houses and at AFL Cape York carnivals.
TCHHS is also the main sponsor for AFL’s Pacific Nations Cup, which is being held in Cairns in September, bringing together 300 football players from across the Pacific.
TCHHS Chief Executive Rex O’Rourke said the partnership was a natural fit with both
organisations 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.
“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.
AFL Cape York General Manager Rick Hanlon said the focus of their organisation had always been on creating opportunity for First Nations youths and this partnership was going to enhance that.
“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.”
AFL Cape York boarding house student Jaime Pratt already has her sights set on a health career. The Coen teen is currently in Year 12 at Cairns High School but also undertaking a traineeship with TCHHS with plans of studying 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.”