Clontarf Academy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Mildura Senior College recently spent a morning at Monash Rural Health in Mildura to explore potential careers in health and medicine.
Clontarf students took part in a practical skills session in the Monash Rural Health Mildura clinical simulation centre and tried their hands at applying plaster casts, guided by four current medical students. A barbeque lunch afterwards gave both groups of students the chance to ask questions and learn from each other, ahead of National Reconciliation Week.
The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, self-esteem, life skills and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men; and by doing so, equip them to participate more meaningfully in society.
David Byrnes, Aboriginal Communities Engagement Lead at Monash Rural Health, explained that the session gave local students the opportunity to learn more about pathways for study and careers in health. Increasing participation from First Nations students in this way supports them to succeed.
“Having health care professionals from First Nations backgrounds is key to creating culturally safe care for local communities – so getting students to consider potential careers in health is an important first step. It was fantastic to welcome the Mildura Clontarf Academy students – and see many of them excited about the idea of working in health care careers in the future.”
Monash Rural Health is committed to increasing the number of First Nations students from regional and rural areas in health professions courses, through the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences’ Gukwonderuk Unit’s Growing Indigenous Graduates program.