During 2011, the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, four Local Learning and Employment Networks (including the BGK LLEN), Chisholm Institute and local employers in Southern Melbourne joined forces to build youth employment pathways into our vital health and community services sector.  This partnership developed the pilot program that will see secondary students from across Southern Melbourne take part in a two-year 'Health and Community Services School Based Traineeship'. 

Students will work one day per week with local health and community service organisations, undertake Certificate III in Community Service training with Chisholm Institute while also completing their senior secondary studies. Students will work in a range of organisations such as hospitals, community health providers, disability service providers and community agencies.

The Health and Community Services Sector is Australia's largest employment sector, and the largest one across most of Southern Melbourne.  Speaking at the launch, Steve Ballard (Director, Health and Aged Care, Department of Health - Southern Region) said that "the sector is facing unprecedented skills shortages, largely due to the ageing workforce and the demands that an ageing population will put on services."  Mr Ballard also said that, "as Southern Melbourne is a significant population growth corridor, this region's health and community services sector will face even more pressures, which will exacerbate the need for new and younger workers."

This traineeship program will introduce students to the array of roles within the sector and provide entry level skills.  It will also support regional health and community service employers who are looking for new ways to recruit young people into their organisations.