Gippsland Lakes Complete Health welcomed its first group of 2022 trainees on Monday.

The group of eight East Gippsland residents, most of them school leavers, are part of GLCH’s inaugural traineeship program, which offers the trainees the opportunity to start a career in health and study for a vocational qualification at the same time.

Each trainee will work across the organisation including roles in Children’s Service, Aboriginal Health, Allied Health, Community Services and Business Administration for the bulk of the year with the potential to start more permanent work in 2023.

GLCH introduced the traineeship scheme as a way to develop local talent, employ young East Gippslanders and offer them a career path in the region’s health sector.

GLCH’s Corporate Services Executive Manager, Rebecca Woodland, said GLCH was keen to employ locals and help school leavers develop a career in community health.

“GLCH supports our trainees with paid study time, mentoring and coaching in a supportive learning environment, regular group education sessions, and hands-on learning in their chosen health field,” Ms Woodland said.

“They will complete their 12-month traineeship with a nationally recognised qualification, and we hope they will then choose to stay on at GLCH, where we can further support them with career development in the health field of their choice.”

The trainees will work largely at GLCH’s Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance sites.

If you, or someone you know, are keen to pursue a career in the health industry, applications for the 2023 GLCH Traineeship Program intake will open later this year.