Making a career in health more accessible
Culturally responsive employment programs are helping grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce by creating accessible, supported pathways into clinical and non-clinical roles. These initiatives build confidence, create belonging, and embed cultural safety from the very first step of a person’s career.
‘We want to encourage more health workers to come on board so we can teach them and they can carry that torch moving forward.’
Dayne Purcell
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker,
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service
U-me Koola is a pioneering training program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners. Developed in partnership with the Queensland Ambulance Service, it offers scaffolded qualifications and wraparound support, enabling participants to ‘earn while they learn.’ As of 2025, 12 trainees are employed across 5 hospital and health services.
Deadly Start, Queensland Health’s school-based traineeship program, expanded statewide in 2023 and now receives recurrent funding. By the end of 2024:
- 87 students completed the program
- 51 secured employment with Queensland Health
- 20 transitioned to university and joined the First Nations Cadetship Program
Launched in 2024, the First Nations Cadetship Program supports university students in health-related degrees with 456 hours of paid, degree-relevant experience. As of June 2025:
- 107 cadets are enrolled in hospital and health services across the state
- All 16 hospital and health services have committed to statewide rollout by 2026
Discovering a passion for care
Story | Metro North
Charlotte’s journey in healthcare began in 2023 when she joined the Deadly Start program as an assistant in nursing at Caboolture Hospital. While completing high school, she worked one day a week toward a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance. Through this, she gained experience with 375 hours of paid work.
‘When my mum told me about the Deadly Start traineeship, I knew it was the one I wanted to do.'
‘I never thought I would work in a hospital, but I now know this is what I want to do forever. I’m very grateful I started this traineeship.’
Charlotte, Deadly Start traineeship participant
‘It’s given me another pathway and has helped me personally find what I want to do after high school. It’s amazing to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from other schools, and I have made many more friendships throughout this traineeship. It also teaches you a lot of new things you wouldn’t learn in school.’