GSAHS wins national training award
Now rural students have the opportunity to gain qualifications and employment while remaining in their communities.
Greater Southern Area Health (GSAHS) is showing the rest of the country how to address the staff shortage and healthcare crisis with an innovative program designed to develop new workforce roles in the health sector across its rural settings.
The program, The Rural Allied Health Assistant’s Project, has won the prestigious NATIONAL ACCOLADES FOR EXCELLENCE – a new awards program for the nationally focused Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (ISC).
Ros Bauer, Allied Health Director for Greater Southern Area Health Service, had this message after their exciting win: “Just go for it, Vocational Training and Higher Education can achieve so much when they work together.
“Creation of a career structure for people in rural settings is critical to building and retaining a skilled set of health workers in regional Australia,” explains Ros. “Students still at school can commence in a Certificate III, then move to employment and training in Certificate IV then to the new Bachelor of Health and Rehabilitation Science through Charles Sturt University – all without leaving their communities.
“Critical to the success of this project has been the involvement of allied health staff every step of the way; in designing roles for assistants, developing appropriate rural training models and associated learning resources. To be recognized by these national awards is a tribute to all those who so generously helped build a ‘new’ model of health services in our rural areas,” said Ros.
“The goal for the awards was to shine the light on the unsung heroes of these two critically important industries,” explained Industry Skills Council Research, Development and Policy Manager, Robin Flynn. “To have had the industry embrace these awards so positively is a testament to their commitment to deliver a superior level of service to our community.
“When most industries are shrinking, the Community Services and Health Industries are growing in employment numbers each quarter, and they really are the backbone of the Australian economy.
“We heartily congratulate all those who entered, especially those organizations who won these inaugural awards,” he said.
To arrange an interview with any of the winners or to speak with the Industry Skills Council about their awards program, contact Kate Engler 0412 526 851