MABEL PARK STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Slacks Creek, Qld
Mabel Park State High School is situated in an area confronted with a high youth unemployment rate (15.2%). Its leaders were determined to provide students with viable pathways into the workforce or into further study upon leaving school, and were cognisant of the fact that the health industry will suffer critical workforce shortages over the next two decades as a result of the growing, ageing population. Additionally, the area is said to have a shortage of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) providing health qualifications.
As a result, the school has collaborated with local industry to establish a health training facility, the Health Hub – the first of its kind to be founded on school grounds in Southeast Queensland. Careers Australia is the RTO and delivers a Certificate II in Health Support Services, providing students from all schools in the area with an opportunity to pursue a pathway to the health sector. At present, 65 students from nine schools are enrolled in the course, and a number of other schools have shown interest in duplicating Mabel Park’s Health Hub concept.