New faces greet patients in Goulburn Valley

Goulburn Valley Health has welcomed new medical interns, nursing graduates and dental graduates to its growing team.

Thirty new medical interns joined GV Health – five more than in the 2011 intake.

This year, new posts have been added to the rotations, including a GP posting, oncology, anaesthetics, surgery and psychiatry.

Twenty graduate nurses have begun a 12-month graduate nurse support program.

They will rotate through the medical, surgical and rehabilitation units and one other specialty area.

As well, six graduate nurses from Cobram, Nathalia and Numurkah will rotate through GV Health for four-week placements spread throughout 2012.

And three new dentist graduates have started their internships.

New faces at GV Health will also include 12 year 11 students from throughout the Goulburn Valley taking part in a two-year Vocational Educational Training in Schools (VETiS) program.

The students, from secondary colleges in across the Goulburn Valley, will complete a dual certificate three in Allied Health Services Assistance and Health Services Assistance, in partnership with GOtafe.

Students will spend one day per week at GV Health.

This will include both classroom time and placement in various departments throughout the service.

Students will continue to attend their school classes for the remainder of the week.

This program enables young people to enter the health care environment in a structured and supported manner.

They will gain a better understanding of the job opportunities available in health care than they would from a typical work experience placement.

The original cohort of 12 students – who participated in the successful 2011 pilot program – will return to GV Health to complete the final year of their course.

Fourteen interns from 2011 have elected to stay at GV Health for their second year.

And one has decided to remain for a third year.