About Deadly Start
The Deadly Start school based traineeship program supports First Nations students with paid, on the job training to develop skills throughout their final years of high school.
The traineeship offers hands on experience, equipping you with valuable skills and training to help you transition into employment after graduation.
Designed to be safe, inclusive, and culturally supportive, the program helps you build confidence, gain new skills, and connect with others.
The traineeship is available in all hospitals and health services. The type of work you do will depend on your location and what’s available.
You might work in areas such as:
- administration
- allied health assistance
- nursing assistance
- patient support
- cooking
- food services
- pharmacy
- health work.
Education and training
We’ve partnered with Connect ‘n’ Grow as the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) (40518) to deliver the traineeship.
As part of the traineeship, you’ll get:
- a Certificate II and III
- a First Aid and CPR certification
- paid employment one day per week as part of the 12 month traineeship
- cultural support and mentorship.
About the role
As a trainee, you’ll:
- work in a temporary part time role, gaining hands on experience while completing your Queensland Certificate of Education
- learn on the job skills with support and supervision from your line manager
- do 375 hours (50 days) of paid employment over 12 months.
Hear from one of our graduates
Shia commenced the Deadly Start school-based traineeship in Year 11, undertaking a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance. During her traineeship at Mount Isa Hospital, she gained valuable hands-on experience across a range of allied health professions, helping her explore different career pathways and develop a deeper understanding of the health workforce.
Working alongside experienced allied health professionals allowed her to discover her interests and build confidence in her career goals. As part of the program, Shia explored several disciplines throughout her placement, while balancing her senior secondary studies and being paid for her work experience.
Following completion of her traineeship, she was offered a full-time allied health assistant role. She plans to spend a gap year building her skills and experience before commencing further studies in speech pathology.
Reflecting on her traineeship journey, her line manager said: ‘When Shia first started, she was quite shy and nervous. Watching her confidence grow has been incredible. She has developed into a valued member of the team, and her journey has been a real inspiration for our staff.’
Who can apply
To apply for the traineeship, you must:
- identify as Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander
- be a high school student starting Year 11 in Queensland.
Express your interest
If you’re a First Nations student starting Year 11 next year and interested in a career in healthcare, let us know.
Fill in our form to express your interest, and we’ll be in touch on how to apply.
Get in touch
If you have questions or want to know more about the traineeship, email our team at qhdeadlystart@health.qld.gov.au.