About traineeships

School based traineeships with us let you earn, learn and explore a future career in health while you complete your senior studies.

As a trainee, you’ll:

  • get paid work experience with Queensland Health
  • learn about varied careers in the health system
  • take the first step towards a rewarding career in health before you graduate high school
  • help us improve the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.

You can do your traineeship in locations across Queensland, including in our hospitals, health centres and offices.

Who is it for

Our traineeships are for students who are:

  • in year 10, 11 and 12
  • at school in Queensland regional and metro areas
  • interested in a career in health services.

If you’re in year 12, you may need to start your traineeship early in the year so you finish before graduation. In some courses you can also finish after graduation if you convert to full time or part time training and keep working with the same employer. Check if this is an option before you start your course.

How they work

School based traineeships run for 12 months. You’ll get paid work experience with us while you study for your Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) or Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA). We’ll help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to start in a career in health when you leave school.

You’ll take one day a week (about 50 days) out of school to do a mix of:

  • working on site at one of our offices, clinics or labs
  • online training at home
  • in person training at a health hub.

During the traineeship you’ll work towards a Certificate III in one of the following areas:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care
  • allied health assistance
  • business
  • dental assisting
  • health services assistance
  • hospital pharmacy support
  • pathology assistance.

You can also talk to us about other options that might be available.

Where your training can take you

A traineeship in one of the following areas can help shape your future career in health.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Care

As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker you’ll care for First Nations people and families and their community.

You’ll work along with other health professionals to:

  • arrange home visits and care at community health clinics
  • give personal care and emotional support
  • educate the community about health and wellbeing
  • connect people and communities with health professionals
  • support community health development programs.

To work in this profession, you need provide evidence that you identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

Learn more about:

You can also apply for other First Nations traineeships for through our Deadly Start traineeship program.

Allied health

As an allied health trainee, you’ll help allied health professionals with a range of tasks and therapies, including occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy.

You’ll learn to:

  • interpret and apply medical terms
  • communicate and work in health or community services
  • assist with allied health programs
  • recognise the impacts of health conditions
  • apply basic principles and practices to prevent and control infection.

Learn more about the Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance on the National Training Register.

Business

On the business pathway you’ll get the chance to work in non-clinical roles, like:

  • legal services
  • human resources
  • finance
  • information technology
  • supply chain, which includes the warehouse and planning needed to keep hospitals stocked and running smoothly.

You’ll learn about:

  • how the health system works
  • how to apply your skills in professional business environments
  • the breadth and variety of careers across the Department of Health.

Learn more about the Certificate III in Business on the National Training Register.

Dental assisting

As a dental assisting trainee, you’ll support dental practitioners and their patients with oral health care.

You’ll learn to:

  • prepare for and help with dental procedures
  • assist with dental x-rays and scans
  • clean and sterilise medical devices and equipment
  • apply basic principles and practices to prevent and control infection
  • support administration in a dental practice
  • communicate and work in health or community services
  • support quality and professionalism in the dental sector.

Learn more about the Certificate III in Dental Assisting on the National Training Register.

Health services

As a Health services assistant trainee, you’ll develop the skills to get a job as an assistant in nursing, wardsperson or operating theatre assistant. In these roles, you’ll use your technical and procedural knowledge to support health professionals caring for patients.

You’ll learn to:

  • recognise healthy body systems
  • interpret and apply medical terms
  • apply basic principles and practices to prevent and control infection
  • organise your work priorities and professional development
  • communicate and work in health or community services.

Learn more about Certificate III in Health Services Assistance on the National Training Register.

Hospital pharmacy

As a trainee pharmacy assistant, you’ll support our hospital pharmacists and help them manage pharmaceutical services and supplies.

This can include buying, storing and maintaining supplies of medicine and other items in wards and departments.

You’ll learn to:

  • recognise healthy body systems
  • pack pharmaceutical products
  • dispense prescriptions and medicine orders and assist with administration
  • maintain confidentiality, privacy and security in a medical environment
  • order, maintain and distribute pharmaceutical stock
  • interpret and apply medical terms
  • use your knowledge to help patients use their medicines effectively.

Learn more about the Certificate III in Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support on the National Training Register.

Pathology

As a trainee in our pathology lab, you'll help us sort and process tissues samples and body fluids for testing.

You'll learn to:

  • identify and label samples
  • record information about samples in our computer system
  • send smaller parts of samples to different labs for testing.

Your hands on training and experience can kick start your career in clinical pathology assistance.

Learn more about the following pathology qualifications on the National Training Register.

Get in touch

If you’re interested in a school based traineeship and would like more information, email schbasedtrain@health.qld.gov.au.

Last updated:   February 2026

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