Issue 10
18 June 2022

CheckUP recently launched the exciting new Healthcare is Everywhere interactive online learning tool targeting high school students and staff to increase awareness and knowledge of the healthcare system and the variety of careers within the health industry. Users can zoom in, scroll around and explore a hypothetical city and rural community to discover the range of health services and career opportunities available.

Resources to support the uptake of the tool and education on health careers are now available for teachers on the Gateway2Health website (click on the button below). A range of marketing collateral is also available on this page for teachers to utilise when promoting the resource to students. 

We encourage you to promote and disseminate this link to staff, students and other relevant contacts.

The Student Experiential Grants are now open to all Health Gateway Schools. The grants support Health Gateway Schools in the development of health career activities, events and resources for their students, and to facilitate local industry and community engagement in line with the program's objectives. Health Gateway Schools are eligible to apply for grants of up to $500 per calendar year. CheckUP utilise SmartyGrants to manage the grant application and reporting process, with eligibility for funding to be determined by the Health Gateway project team in accordance with the approved Grant Guidelines. To apply, schools are required to complete an application form, which will provide details of the proposed activity, target group and anticipated outcomes. Following delivery of the activity or event, schools will be required to submit a reporting form detailing outcomes and costs involved for each approved activity. 

If you have any questions or require further information, please get in touch with your relevant Health Gateway Schools Coordinator. 

The Health Gateway team is looking forward to catching up with you at the next Health Gateway Schools Network meeting on Tuesday 16 August at 8am via Teams. These meeting provide an opportunity for you to connect with other Gateway schools, learn from one another, ask questions and provide feedback to the Health Gateway team. We hope you are able to participate and look forward to sharing information and ideas between schools. If you have not received an invitation to these meetings, please contact Sabrina Kerr (sabrinakerr@checkup.org.au) who will add you to the calendar invitations.

Industry engagement is essential for students to obtain an understanding of the many career pathways available to them and to maintain current knowledge of developments within the sector, enabling them to make informed career decisions.

Participation by health educators and clinicians in informing, engaging and involving students in this process is critical, with benefits for both individual practitioners as well as larger organisations providing health and allied services.

We understand that schools can often find it challenging to engage with potential local industry. To assist with this task CheckUP have undertaken a mapping exercise to seek out each of our participating schools potential local industry partners. Schools are encouraged to reach out to their local industry to form strong partnerships and fostering ongoing relationships. Schools might also wish to pass the information on to their students to seek their own potential traineeships, apprenticeships or work experience. 

CheckUP will also endeavour to contact the local industry partners on the lists to request and establish formal partnerships.