April 16, 2021Ten Allied Health graduates are making the journey to becoming a professional Allied Health Practitioner.
The Northern Health Allied Health Graduate Program was introduced in 2004, and this year’s program kicked off in February. The program is designed to assist Allied Health Practitioners make the transition from student to professional.
Program participants are Allied Health professionals in their first health professional job since graduation or in their first role in a large health service.
Program Facilitator Talin Gochian said the Northern Health Allied Health Graduate Program offers a series of six facilitated group sessions over six months that focus on topics relevant to new graduates.
“We run two groups each year, our current group consists of 10 Allied Health new graduates from a range of disciplines including dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work and podiatry,” she said.
“Sessions include a combination of structured learning activities, reflective exercises and opportunities for debriefing and discussion. The graduate program complements routine induction, professional development and supervision activities.”
Occupational Therapist Callum Farrell is taking part in the program this year and says the experience so far has been fantastic.
“I have been so well supported by the team at Northern Hospital Epping and the new graduate program. I have found the new program to be very beneficial, as it is a chance to learn more about how Northern Health operates as well as a chance to connect with other graduates from a variety of disciplines,” he said.
“It has helped me learn more about other areas of Allied Health and has given me valuable advice about advancing my career with Northern Health.”
Eleanor Beck is a Physiotherapist and says “it’s been great to meet other new graduates and I have felt very welcomed and supported while participating in the program. It has given me a chance to learn more about Northern Health and how I can make the most of my new graduate role.”
Talin says the program is “highly engaging and interactive and is a great way for new graduates to meet one another, learn from one another and begin to develop a greater understanding of the wider health context.”
“The program uses an interdisciplinary approach to learning, learning from each other, from each other and about each other,” Talin explained.
“The objectives of the program are to support the transition from being a student to being a competent, confident health professional, provide an opportunity to link with colleagues and learn more with colleagues and learn more about Allied Health and teams, support new graduates to join the Allied Health workforce, develop a greater understanding of interdisciplinary practice, provide professional development to assist graduates become critically reflective and confident practitioners, develop a commitment to research, promote personal development and foster a lifelong learning collaboration.”
