It was 8am and we were headed up the coast to the annual Health Careers Forum held at the University of Newcastle’s Department of Rural Health Lecture site at Taree.

Our students conducted themselves impeccably amongst the 100’s of other school students, from a number of high schools, representing the wider region.

The session started with our group squeezing into a formal lecture hall, right on time, to be addressed briefly by nine practicing professionals.

These introductory talks were designed to entice the students to choose to attend their lengthier sessions, which proved to be very hands-on for some of our students.

The forum afforded the students an opportunity to choose three professional fields they wished to learn more about.

The atmosphere was structured, professional and well- organised, yet flexible.

The students at the start and close of each session, when a bell would loudly chime, had the freedom to meander to each clinical/ seminar room and see which session took their interest.

Micheala found herself following the interests of our school leaders, Tamara Gooch and Kaitlyn Gregory.

The students’ capacity to engage with the practiced professionals filled me with pride.

They asked thoughtful questions such as: what that profession entailed, how much the salary was, and what the demands of the university course would be like.

The girls found themselves testing some assistive technologies such as: modified cutlery, mobility putty and 3/D diagnostic tools, whilst talking with the Occupational Therapist presenter.

I managed to snap a photo of the girls being educated on assistive technologies when screaming down the hall on a wheelchair provided.

After Kaitlyn Gregory participated in the Midwifery session, I congratulated the midwife on her engaging and hands-on approach of demonstrating the practical side of her occupation.

The students were afforded the opportunity to ‘glove and apron up’, to display the instructor’s technique of delivering a baby.

Our students displayed great maturity, highly developed listening skills and didn’t miss a question opportunity to win prizes.

Charlotte Collins proudly displayed her nurse’s prize pack which included a pen with light, used to record the patient’s orderlies and retractable name badge fastener.

Charlotte’s attitude and interest in the nursing presentation gives me reason to believe this may be not the last nurse’s pack she will receive.

Micheala was convinced we may have a few budding Nurses, Doctors, Diagnostic Radiographers, Occupational Therapists, Dieticians, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Midwives and/or Speech Pathologists amongst our students at Bulahdelah Central.

The students, Mr Jones and I would like to thank wholeheartedly our Careers Advisor, Linda Drenkhahn for organising the successful excursion and allowing myself the opportunity to attend.

-Micheala Sawtell, Relieving Careers Advisor.

The music room has become a busy place at lunch times with many keen musicians coming together to share their music and work at improving their performance skills.

Year 8 students Shannon Powick, Harry Cole and Guy Armstrong-Willis regularly spend their lunch times playing popular rock songs.

The boys formed their band in music lessons last year and made their debut performance at the Matt Smith Concert with a lively rendition of ‘Seven Nation Army’.

The group have learnt many new songs this year and are looking forward to their next big gig.

Other students are using their lunch times to learn a new instrument.

We currently have a small group learning to play trumpets and tenor horns.

We are also planning to start a woodwind group for students wishing to play a clarinet, flute or saxophone.

We hope to have this group up and running by the end of term.   

An informal lunch time singing group also regularly meets, giving the students the opportunity to sing their favourite songs with other passionate young vocalists.

The repertoire is chosen by the singers based on their own musical interests.

By participating in the vocal group, the students support each other in developing their singing skills and confidence.

Any Secondary students with an interest in music are more than welcome to join the lunch time groups.

-Wendy Parsons, Music Teacher.