WDHS supports Future Health Managers
September 23 , 2009
Western District Health Service is supporting the development of future Health Service Managers through the Rural Management Residency Program.
The Rural Management Residency Program offers candidates a two year training period in a variety of organisational settings. Throughout this time, candidates undertake four placements in various health organisations, which include the Department of Health, Rural Health Services and Community Health Centres.
WDHS Chief Executive Officer Mr Jim Fletcher said “the health service was pleased to be involved in the program as it had an important role as a Sub-regional Health Service in the training of future health professionals. Our current Rural Management resident Ms Stacey Smith is the third placement at Western District Health Service over the past 3 years.”
“All placements had been beneficial to both WDHS and Management Residents as they had been allocated specific change management projects to complete which were a priority for the Health Service and importantly provided outstanding learning opportunities for Management Residents” he said.
The current Rural Management resident at WDHS Ms Stacey Smith said “the Resident Management Program is fantastic! It gives me exposure to areas in health management that I normally wouldn’t be able to experience. I was working as a Research Scientist with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne and thought I would have to retain completely to have the exposure I am getting now. I am learning about and gaining experience in organisational culture, especially in the rural setting, change management and the overall management, structure and processes behind a busy health organisation. It’s giving me opportunities to work independently and I am working on meaningful and important projects. That is the brilliant thing about the program, its offers you an opportunity that wouldn’t normally exist!”
Ms Smith said “the College of Health Service Executives had provided support through contacts with a past resident who is now the National Procurement Manager for Healthscope Ltd who highly recommended the program as the exposure to the range of work experiences in health management, provided great learning opportunities and personal contacts to further career development.”
“I encourage anyone with an interest in pursuing a career in Health Service Management to apply for the Rural Health Residency Program” she said.
The program requires applicants to have a recent degree qualification and also have the drive and commitment to pursue a career in Rural Health Management. For more information go to the http://www.achse.org.au/vic/ website or contact David Webb, State Manager, ACHSE Vic. Branch david.webb@achsevic.org.au
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Caption: Stacey Smith enjoying her placement with Western District Health Service as part of the ACHSE Rural Management Residency Program.