Ms Melissa Bartlett1, Ms Amy Catlin1, Ms Lily Blakston1, Ms. Loraine Ng1
1Monash Health, Australia
Introduction:
The Department of Health Aboriginal Cadetship Program was originally designed to support Indigenous tertiary students to gain paid employment in the public healthcare setting, whist competing their tertiary studies in nursing or allied health.
Methods:
In 2023, Monash Health employed two Allied Health Aboriginal Cadets, both of whom were undertaking their final year of physiotherapy studies. Cadets are employed the equivalent of 8 weeks full time, (40) paid supernumerary shifts. The program is financially supported by the Department of Health and cadets are linked in with Indigenous mentors already employed by Monash Health. Cadets are employed under the Allied Health Assistant (AHA) award.
Results:
Of the two Allied Health Aboriginal Cadets who recently completed the program at Monash Health, one is now employed on a permanent full-time basis as a qualified physiotherapist. The other cadet is also employed on a permanent contract with a different organisation. The program is currently recruiting, and Monash Health hope to successfully employ additional cadets in 2025 and contribute meaningfully to achieving the aims of the organisation’s Aboriginal Employment Plan (AEP).
Discussion:
The Allied Health Aboriginal Cadetship Program has thus far supported the career pathways of Indigenous allied health students. Moving forwards, alongside ongoing cultural safety measures, it would be optimal to increase the numbers of Indigenous students coming through the program, as a greater number of Indigenous allied health clinicians would contribute to culturally safe healthcare for our Indigenous patients and clients.
Biography:
Melissa Bartlett is the Allied Health Early Graduate Education Advisor at Monash Health in Victoria. Melissa has a Social Work background, having completed her Bachelor of Social Work at Monash University in 1998 and Masters of Work in 2004, also at Monash University. Melissa has worked in a variety of clinical social work roles throughout her career. In 2005 she commenced working at Monash Health as a Senior Clinician and set up the Emergency Department social work service at the newly opened Casey Hospital in Berwick. In 2007 she became the Social Work Manager at Casey Hospital and remained in that role for several years. She has been the Allied Health Early Graduate Education Advisor at Monash Health since October 2016 and is passionate in her role supporting Allied Health clinicians in their first year of practice. Melissa also currently holds the portfolios for Allied Health Traineeships and Allied Health Aboriginal Cadetships within Monash Health.
Lily Blakston is a proud Palawa woman, born and raised around the Kulin nations. Lily undertook an indigenous cadetship at Monash Health during her undergraduate studies, and is now employed on a permanent basis as a Physiotherapist within Monash Health. Lily has a passion for working within the acute inpatient physiotherapy setting.