Paul Adams - Paramedic (Third-year Student)
Working to service and assist people in need is what made Paul enter into the QUT Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) degree
"Personally, being a paramedic is an extremely rewarding career. You are able to serve others in a time of need and make a positive impact on their lives."
"Paramedics is challenging, stilmulating and no two days are the same. Going out on prac has been really awesome. It's been great to start getting comfortable training in the role of a paramedic so early in the course and to practise my skills in real-life situations. TYou learn what it's really like to be a paramedic and how other ambulance officers with years of experience operate."
"My days can also include hands-on workshops and scenario-based training as well as lectures and tutorials."
Read about Paramedics Study Options online.
Angela Wakefield
Angela’s previous experience in medical research interviewing and practice management, created a strong interest in public health and health promotion and graduated from QUT in 2007.
During my final year of university I joined the QUT Career Mentor Scheme, which gave me a great opportunity to meet people working in ‘the real world’. I worked with a Senior Epidemiologist in Queensland Health, whose skills and knowledge helped to prepare me for working in public health.
In my final year, I was also fortunate enough to study in Vietnam for a month. I worked on an adolescent mental health project with the Hanoi School of Public Health. Living and working in a developing country was a privilege, a huge learning curve and an amazing experience.
After graduation, I started working for Queensland Health, firstly in epidemiology and now as a Senior Health Promotion Practitioner. One of my roles is to work with clinical staff in hospital and community settings, to embed health promotion and prevention into their core business. I work to improve the health of both staff and patients, by addressing chronic disease risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor nutrition and smoking.
I found that the Public Health degree provided a really relevant and comprehensive range of studies in preparation for working in the health promotion field. My Grade 12 daughter has been so interested by what I have studied and the work that I do, that she wants to study public health too.
Read about Health Promotion Study Options online
Felicity Hibbins - Health Promotion Officer
Felicity’s degree in Public Health has led her to a diverse career in a number of Health Promotion roles.
During high school I developed an interest in preventative health. I decided to pursue this interest and studied a degree in Public Health as a mature age student. A presentation in a lecture by the Cancer Council Qld in my second year at university helped me to realise that I really wanted to strive for a career in Health Promotion.
After graduation, I worked for the Cancer Council Qld in Toowoomba as a Prevention and Early Detection Coordinator. From here I moved to Hervey Bay and worked for several years for Qld Health in the Wide Bay Population Health Unit developing, implementing and evaluating a number of health promotion projects mainly in schools and child care centres. The opportunity to work outside of Brisbane in regional and remote areas really helped to advance my skills in health promotion as there was such a great variety of work in these areas.
Moving back to Brisbane I continued to work for Qld Health in the Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs area for a short time before taking up my current position with Qld Police Service as a Health Promotion Officer. Over the last two years I have also had the opportunity to act in Management positions allowing me to enhance my leadership skills.
My course in Public Health at QUT offered me a great variety of subjects as well as practical experience which gave me an excellent starting point to go on and enjoy a varied and diverse career in Health Promotion.
Read about Health Promotion Study Options online
Fiona Fairbrother - Podiatrist
A passion for travel and a degree in Podiatry took Fiona Fairbrother to the Middle East as Egypt's only Podiatrist
"I worked as a locum at a cardiovascular hospital in Egypt. My focus of treatment was diabetic foot care as diabetes is quite prevalent in Egypt. If people lose parts of their lower limb to diabetic complications, it makes it difficult for them to be active members of society and their quality of life diminishes, so my job had a preventative role".
"Egypt was a fascinating place and the experience has led to my new job working in the diabetic care area at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane."
"QUT's course gave me the chance to meet lots of interesting people. Because it was clinically based, I could put what I'd learnt into practice from early on in the degree - it made it all more real."
"We also learnt from a variety of podiatrists and physiotherapists with valuable real-world experience. At the end of the course, I was able to move confidently into the occupation that I was trained for, which is very important."
Read about Podiatry Study Options online.
Brooke Stakey - Clinical Dietitian
Brooke Starkey decided to study nutrition and dietetics so she could help others with diabetes.
"I decided to study nutrition and dietetics so I could help people with diabetes. As a diabetic myself, I had a strong desire to make a difference in this area. That's one of the best aspects of my career - helping others and being able to work across a range of different health areas - in community health, clinical health, food service, and many others."
"As a clinical dietitian with Redcliffe Caboolture Health Service District, I cover medical, palliative care, paediatric, maternity and antenatal caseloads. I counsel patients and families one-on-one, provide group education in weight loss and antenatal nutrition, organise educational resources and prepare professional development sessions."
"Now I am studying diabetes education and volunteer as a sponshorship coordinator for Diabetes Australia - Queensland organising professional development events."
Read about Nutrition and Dietetics Study Options online.
Luke Baxby - Project Officer
Luke's degree merged his interest in business and health.
"I work as a project officer for Queensland Health in the Health Funding and Sytems Development Unit. The best part of my work is that no two days are the same. I develop budget documentation - from negotiation and management of commonwealth/state arangements to assisting in the funding for organisations like the Royal Doctors Service and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service."
"Health is a dynamic and complex industry that has many players"
"The best opportunity I had while studying was a six month exchange to London at the University of Westminster - I learnt so much"
Read about Health Services Management Study Options online.
Tahnee Maker - Health Information Manager
Tahnee Maker wanted to work in management and in a field that helps people.
"I knew Health Information Management was for me straight from high school. I wanted to gain skills relating to management in a field where I could make a difference and help people."
"I'm now working for TrakHealth, a company that provides software solutions to assist with patient care in the Health Sector. I've also worked as a Health Information Manager for the Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospitals, and as a Senior Classification Officer and Senior Project Officer for Queensland Health."
"As a Health Information Manager, I'm responsible for the collection, storage, analysis and distribution of health care information. This involves contact with a wide range of people and professional. I also provide the information systems and up-to-date support to aid medical decision making and patient care planning. There is a vast number and variety of jobs in the field. Studying Health Information Management gave me a solid grounding for a challenging and exciting career in Health."
Read about Health Information Management Study Options online.