Indigenous Allied Health Australia | Careers and Pathways | High School to Deadly Careers Program

High School to Deadly Careers Program

Opportunity for IAHA Student Members and Early Career Graduates

The IAHA High School to Deadly Careers (HS2DC) program is co-designed with members and communities. It aims to provide a culturally safe and responsive rural or remote experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health students undertaking their tertiary degree, early career postgraduate studies, or VET qualifications.

The IAHA HS2DC program is based on a two-way learning system whereby the high school students, and student members can share experiences and advice surrounding goal setting, career aspirations and pathways. As a participant, you will promote and showcase allied health pathways based on interactive and informative high school visits with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from years 7-12.

As a participant in the program,  you will be exposed to employment and career opportunities in remote and rural health to encourage you, as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health student, to pursue remote and rural clinical practice through a positive and strengths-based approach to health career opportunities. This includes building your cultural knowledge and understanding of the local communities with visits to local community health services, other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, community groups, and cultural leaders.

IAHA’s approach engages existing tertiary and VET sector health students, with an interest in working in rural and remote Australia, through a hands-on program that is enriched with immersive experiences demonstrating the many rewards of rural and remote work. This program aligns with IAHA’s strategic focus on growing and supporting an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health workforce and reducing the risk of ‘culture shock’ that can undermine attraction and retention strategies. Similarly, the IAHA HS2DC program increases the exposure of high school students to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health and other health role models, to help stimulate interest and an awareness of available opportunities.

If successful in your application, you must complete IAHA’s Cultural Responsiveness in Action Framework level 1 and level 2 prior to the IAHA HS2DC program you will be participating in.

For more information, please reach out to the IAHA Membership team at membership@iaha.com.au or call (02) 6285 1010.

2025 Dates

IAHA will offer the IAHA HS2DC program as outlined below (note some dates may change):

  • New South Wales: South West Sydney – 19th March
  • South Australia: Adelaide and surrounding suburbs – 2nd to 6th June
  • New South Wales: Far North West region – 11th to 15th August
  • Victoria: Mildura and surrounding suburbs – October – November (dates TBC early 2025)