A week inside Austin Health offered Year 12 student Abby an enriching experience in the healthcare industry. Austin Health offers dedicated First Nations work experience opportunities, including a week-long Indigenous Careers in Health program. As part of the program, students explore various clinical/non-clinical roles, network with hospital staff, and connect with the First Nations Health Unit.
For Abby, the biggest drawcard was an opportunity to learn outside the classroom. “I was excited because I like practical learning. Being able to go into Austin Health and actually experience the workplace was really cool.” Throughout her placement, Austin Health staff tailored Abby’s experience to match her interests, giving her exposure to Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Radiology. “Radiology was amazing,” she said. “We got to see X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, and I even got to X-ray my phone.” Abby “learned a lot from seeing how staff communicate with patients.”
Observing these interactions introduced her to several “skills [that] can help in any workplace.” Additionally, exploring different hospital departments helped Abby discover the variety of careers available in healthcare. While she was formerly “more focused on sports science” as a career pathway, “health is now something [she’s] considering too.”
Although she was nervous on her first day, Abby said completing the placement alongside another First Nations student helped her feel more at ease.
She encourages others to “just give it a crack”, because “you learn something about yourself either way.” BNLLEN proudly acknowledges Austin Health for supporting culturally safe and meaningful industry experiences for First Nations young people across Victoria.
