On Friday, we welcomed over 60 high school students and their careers advisors from across Northern NSW to our Lismore campus for our annual Health Careers Day – and what a day it was!
From the moment they arrived, the energy was high. Students from ten schools (plus the local home school network) jumped straight into a packed program designed to give them a real taste of what it’s like to work in health. We kicked off with student panels featuring our current university students studying everything from medicine and nursing to physio, pharmacy, and nutrition. Their stories were honest and full of practical advice.
Next up was a session on exam prep for University Clinical Aptitude Test and Graduate Medical School Admission Test pathways, which gave students a clearer picture of what’s involved in getting into medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health science degrees. Then came one of the highlights: a simulation exercise led by our educators, including a cardiac arrest scenario with a retrieval team – new to the program this year and a real eye-opener!
After lunch, students rotated through hands-on workshops in suturing, basic life support, nursing, physio, dentistry, OT, exercise physiology, and nutrition. These sessions were buzzing with curiosity and excitement, all made possibly with the amazing students currently on placement with us, who helped run the workshops and shared their experiences with warmth and enthusiasm.
A huge thank you to Connect Northern Rivers for working with us to deliver this event. Their support helps us connect with young people across the region and show them the many pathways into health careers.
At UCRH, we’re proud to be part of the Northern Rivers community. We believe in health equity for all, and we know that inspiring the next generation of health professionals is one way we can help make that happen.
