Creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students

14 Dec 2023

CareerTracker interns with caregivers from our Moort Boodjari Mia and Aboriginal Health Services. From left: Caregiver Shaydeen, interns Alina and Sam and caregiver Linda.

St John of God Health Care recently welcomed six interns across our hospitals and services as part of our long standing partnership with CareerTrackers, a national non-profit organisation that creates internship opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students.  

With health now the second most in-demand field of study for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, these paid internship opportunities help reduce barriers to career and employability experiences and create pathways that support their future career aspirations.

“In order to be it, you need to see it,” said Leanne, who is studying Biomedical Science at The University of Notre Dame and is motivated by a strong desire to see all Aboriginal students have strong role models. 

“I want to be here as a First Nations woman so my family and other younger aspiring Aboriginal women can see what we’re doing, in hope they feel inspired to put themselves out there and express and celebrate their culture in ways that can benefit the medical system.”

St John of God Health Care CareerTrackers Business Partner Lauren Robertson said the interns come from a range of disciplines, including nursing, biomedical science and psychology and that we work with the organisation to identify potential internship opportunities based on the candidate’s profile, career interests and preferred location.

“We support the candidates into opportunities that will build their awareness of the health care industry and give first-hand experience of working in a hospital setting and areas including Aboriginal health, nursing, allied health and projects.

“Over the eight to 12 week internship period the interns will work alongside our caregivers to form professional networks and relationships and be exposed to a broad range of areas and scenarios that will see them develop a range of transferable and discipline specific skills and knowledge that will help with future employability prospects.”

St John of God Health Care has been partnering with CareerTrackers since 2014 with the program an important part of the organisation’s vision for reconciliation.

“Our partnership with CareerTrackers is helping us to forge lasting change and create a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve,” said St John of God Health Care Chief Mission Integration Officer, Tara Peters.

“Through our journey of reconciliation we are committed to creating employment and education opportunities within our organisation that will positively impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

“During the period of our previous Reconciliation Action Plan 2020-2022, we hosted 10 interns across our hospitals and services with two of these interns since graduating as registered nurses and joining the St John of God Health Care Graduate Program. 

“This internship period sees our highest number of interns to date, which is a testament to the continued success of the program.”

In addition to CareerTrackers, this year St John of God Health Care provided $160,000 in scholarship funding to The University of Notre Dame to support four of the university’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students over the four years of their postgraduate degree program.