Cadetships program helping to shape healthcare in the Territory

Aboriginal students who want to gain professional health qualifications in the Northern Territory can now apply for the 2025 intake of the NT Health Aboriginal Cadetships Program.

The program is designed to assist eligible Aboriginal students to undertake the Diploma of Nursing or their first undergraduate degree or postgraduate studies.

“We are committed to increasing the employment of Aboriginal people as health professionals in the Northern Territory,” Minister for Health Steve Edgington said.

“Increasing Aboriginal representation within the NT Health professional and clinical health workforce also contributes to providing culturally safe care and services.”

To date, 26 Aboriginal Territorians have been awarded a cadetship and 13 have graduated from the NT Health Aboriginal Cadetships Program.

They are now working in a range of health professions including nursing, midwifery, speech pathology, occupational therapy, medical laboratory, physiotherapy, and radiography.

Ebony Hill commenced her cadetship in 2024 and is now in her second year studying a Doctor of Medicine degree at Flinders University.

She is undertaking her cadetship work placements with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre at the Royal Darwin Hospital in data support, auditing emergency department trauma injury presentations.

“The NT Health Aboriginal Cadetships program presented an opportunity for me to prepare myself for the workforce by undertaking cadetship work placements. I have gained practical skills as well as continued my studies without compromising my financial and personal responsibilities,” Ms Hill said.

“The experiences and opportunities I’ve been exposed to have broadened my perspective and I have solidified my ambition to become a doctor and am inspired to explore areas of healthcare I hadn’t previously considered.”

Another 2024 Aboriginal Cadetships recipient, Madison Cahill, has commenced her first year of a Doctor of Medicine at Flinders University. She is working in the NT Health Safety and Quality Team in quality improvement projects.

“Through the cadetship I’ve been able to meet and work with so many inspiring and passionate health professionals which has set me up for success for my future career goals – which is to give back and contribute to the wider NT community,” Ms Cahill said.

The Aboriginal Cadetships program is a key initiative to support and develop future Aboriginal clinical practitioners and health practitioners for the Northern Territory and includes 12 weeks of paid work placement within NT Health each year.

Three cadetships are available for the 2025 intake and include:

•  A study allowance of up to $1,200 per fortnight whilst studying fulltime.
• Twelve weeks paid work placement with NT Health each year.
• Book allowance of up to $1,000 each year.
• An incentive payment of up to $4,000 per year.
• Two return airfares a year to the NT to undertake cadetship work placements.

For more information on the Aboriginal Cadetships, visit https://health.nt.gov.au/careers/aboriginal-careers2/indigenous-cadetships.

To apply, visit jobs.nt.gov.au. Applications close on Sunday, 9 February 2025.