Catholic Healthcare Student Placements Launch Careers in Aged Care
Catholic Healthcare has successfully partnered with the Eileen O’Connor Catholic College to provide student placements for those undertaking a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
Eileen O’Connor is a school for children with moderate intellectual disabilities. Its namesake co-founded Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor and is Australia’s next saint-in-making.
Eileen’s ministry in healthcare, advocacy, and friendship for the underprivileged is particularly noteworthy given her own disability. In perfect alignment with our mission to care for those in need, Catholic Healthcare has been honoured to place Eileen O’Connor’s students in one of our residential care homes.
Catholic Healthcare Student Placement Coordinator Stefanie Gray forged a special relationship with the school to place five Certificate II Food and Beverage students at Lewisham Nursing Home.
‘This VET work placement has been invaluable in giving our students their first opportunity to learn essential on-the-job skills such as following instructions, teamwork, and engaging with valued members of the community,’ said Sydney Catholic Schools’ Monica Gonzalez.
‘We’re incredibly grateful for this partnership and look forward to many more years with Catholic Healthcare, said Monica.
The placement began on 12 March this year, with three boys and two girls entering the program. The initiative started with a morning tea, attended by Stefanie and Lewisham’s Residential Manager, Kym Andrews.
The boys attend one day and the girls the next, both starting at 9 a.m. Stefanie coordinated with Kym and Eileen O’Connor’s teachers to assign the students responsibilities, with the teachers regularly attending supervisory visits.
‘The feedback from the Eileen O’Connor school has been fantastic, and we are keen to keep the partnership going,’ said Stefanie.
‘Help me that I may help others…’ (from Prayer to Eileen O’Connor)
Calling all students
Stefanie also collaborates with Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, the Australian Catholic University, TAFE NSW, the Department of Education, and various RTOs to assist both secondary and tertiary students with placements.
Students are selected from diverse educational pathways, including those aspiring to become Registered Nurses and individuals pursuing qualifications such as Certificate III in Individual Support, Certificate IV in Ageing, Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, or Leisure and Lifestyle.
These pathways qualify students to work as Lifestyle Coordinators, Enrolled Nurses, Registered Nurses, Personal Care Assistants and within Kitchen teams.
To date in 2025, 380 students have been placed in our Homes. Of these students, 10% to 15% subsequently pursue a career within Catholic Healthcare each month.
Looking to start a career while in school?
School-Based Apprenticeships or Traineeships (SBATs) enable students to start their careers while still in school. Available to Year 10, 11, and 12 students, they typically begin in Year 11, combining part-time work with formal training at school, TAFE NSW, or another Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
SBAT students undertake a two-year placement and must complete seven hundred hours or one shift per week. Classified as paid employees, students undergo the usual employment checks, including the necessary police check and signed permission from their guardian.
SBAT students pursuing a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) start with eight weeks of shadowing a Lifestyle Coordinator, allowing them to gently experience working in residential care before transitioning to their carer roles.
SBAT students can also pick up extra hours during school holidays.
Keen to learn more?
If you would like to find out more about the SBAT program or traineeships with Catholic Healthcare, please email our recruitment team at recruitment@chcs.com.au or visit our website, here: https://www.catholichealthcare.com.au/campaigns/aged-care-careers-for-students
