Mackay students gain hands-on insight into health careers
High school students interested in nursing, aged care and community services have stepped into the shoes of health professionals through CQUniversity's Career Taster: Health and Support Practices at the Mackay City campus.
The week-long Career Taster provided students with an opportunity to explore careers in healthcare through practical learning activities, role plays and hands-on skill development, helping them gain a clearer understanding of study and career pathways in the sector.
CQUniversity Vocational and Educational Training (VET) Teacher (Individual Support) Rebecca Reid said the Career Taster was designed to provide students with an authentic insight into the health and support industry.
"Students have been exposed to a range of skills and activities that are used across the health and support sectors, from communication and person-centred care through to workplace health and safety practices," she said.
Available to eligible Year 10 students across Queensland, Career Tasters is a joint initiative of the Australian Government and Queensland Government, providing students with opportunities to explore potential career pathways through hands-on learning experiences.
"It's about helping them understand what these roles involve day-to-day and giving them the opportunity to decide whether it's a pathway they'd like to pursue."
Year 10 student Marley Crompton joined the course to learn more about careers in nursing and aged care.
"When I saw the Career Taster, it gave me an opportunity to understand more about what I want to do for my future," Marley said.
Throughout the week, students took part in practical activities designed to replicate real workplace scenarios.
"We've done role plays to see what it would be like in a real-life scenario, supporting clients," she said.
The experience reinforced Marley's interest in pursuing a career in healthcare.
"It's definitely made me feel like I do actually really want to do this. It's made me more interested."
Marley said she was particularly drawn to aged care because of the opportunity to support and connect with others.
"I do really want to do aged care. I just feel like it's nice to connect with people as well and help them."
Her interest in nursing began after seeing first-hand the impact healthcare professionals can have on patients.
"When I saw how nice the nurses are and how much they help people, I got intrigued really easily," she said.
Fellow participant Jesse Wales enrolled in the Career Taster to gain a better understanding of what a future in healthcare might look like.
"I just wanted to get a view of what being a nurse or paramedic or someone in healthcare would be like," Jesse said.
Throughout the week, students learned practical skills commonly used across a range of health and support roles.
"We've learned plenty of different things, including how to take blood pressure, take pulse readings and put proper PPE on when you're being a healthcare worker," he said.
By the fourth day of the course, Jesse said the experience had confirmed his career aspirations.
"I loved it. I'm definitely going to take up a career in healthcare."
Jesse hopes to pursue nursing after finishing school, with the possibility of moving into paramedicine in the future.
Rebecca Reid said one of the most rewarding aspects of the course was seeing students embrace the hands-on learning activities and build connections with their peers, with feedback indicating they thoroughly enjoyed the Career Taster experience.
"It's rewarding to see students come into the course interested in healthcare and leave with a clearer idea of where they'd like to go next," she said.
"For many of them, the hands-on activities help bring those careers to life and show them what studying and working in the sector could look like."
Career Taster: Health and Support Practices is one of a range of Career Taster experiences offered by CQUniversity, helping students explore study and career options through practical, industry-focused learning.
Expressions of interest are now open for eligible Year 10 students wishing to participate in Career Tasters in 2027.Â
