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.
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
Charlotte’s journey in healthcare began in 2023 when she joined the Deadly Start program as an assistant in nursing at Caboolture Hospital. While completing high school, she worked one day a week toward a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance. Through this, she gained experience with 375 hours of paid work.
‘When my mum told me about the Deadly Start traineeship, I knew it was the one I wanted to do. I never thought I would work in a hospital, but I now know this is what I want to do forever. I’m very grateful I started this traineeship.’
‘It’s given me another pathway and has helped me personally find what I want to do after high school. It’s amazing to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from other schools, and I have made many more friendships throughout this traineeship. It also teaches you a lot of new things you wouldn’t learn in school.’
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.