This summer, Health Science Academy students have been gaining hands-on experience through a pilot cadetship program across Counties Manukau. Supported by Middlemore Foundation and coordinated by the Pacific Health Team at Middlemore Hospital, this initiative offers students valuable paid work experience in healthcare and is a continuation of our mahi supporting our future healthcare workforce.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Hynds Foundation and Lotteries Community Grants, the programme has provided 53 cadets, so far, exposure to various hospital departments and community health providers including GP clinics and organisations like the Cause Collective. Under the guidance of experienced staff and mentors, students have gained insights into the diverse career pathways within the health sector.
Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive with one cadet sharing, "The cadetship was a great way to get hands-on experience in healthcare. It made me realise just how many different roles exist, its not just doctors and nurses."
Meet some of our cadets below and hear about their experiences!
Vea - Laboratories
“Before this experience, I had no idea what working in a lab would be like. I imagined white coats, pens in pockets, and clipboards, but it’s far more tech-based than I expected”.
Tangaroa College graduate Vea has been enjoying her cadetship in the laboratory, photographed here while testing urine samples for drugs with her supervisors Bryan and Riteshna.
Vea’s cadetship has given her a deeper understanding of the diverse career opportunities within healthcare. “By broadening my horizons and knowledge, it gives me a better understanding of what I’d like to do in terms of future career paths and what exactly people do after graduating from university,” she shares.
Although Vea has primarily been observing, she has found Toxicology fascinating as she learns about the methods used and the variety of substances that can be detected. Vea noted she was surprised by how much manual work is involved in toxicology compared to other areas. This hands-on exposure has deepened her interest in biochemistry, and she looks forward to beginning her degree in the subject at university this year.
Mele - Cardiac and Cath Labs
Mele has had a fascinating experience in the Cardiac and Cath Labs, primarily observing and learning about various cardiac procedures
She has been observing echos, ultrasounds, and cardiologists performing procedures to check for heart diseases and pacemakers. One of the most exciting moments for Mele was observing a pacemaker implantation. “It was buzzy, I expected more flesh, but I could see the heart veins and arteries pumping,” she shares.
Beyond the technical aspects, Mele thoroughly enjoyed interacting with patients during her cadetship. “It inspires me, I want to be in the community helping people,” she says, reflecting on how this experience has influenced her career aspirations.
Mele admits she came into the cadetship without much prior knowledge, “I didn’t even know what a pacemaker was,” but the experience has been amazing, broadening her understanding of cardiac care and strengthening her desire to pursue a future in healthcare as she embarks on a degree in paramedicine this year.
Layla – Women’s Health Cadet
“The cadetship has been an eye-opening experience. I’ve gained insight into the many factors healthcare professionals consider when caring for patients—it’s full-on!”
Initially placed in Women’s Health with expectations of working in the birthing wards, Layla quickly realized the breadth of the field. She has observed nurses in Midwifery, Women's Health, and Maternity Care, learning firsthand about patient care. One of the most valuable aspects for Layla has been seeing how everything in healthcare comes together. “It’s given me a good taste of healthcare, and it's been great to experience what it’s like to work in a hospital.” Layla is now excited to start university after her cadetship.
Dorothy – Radiology Cadet
Dorothy’s cadetship has been an incredible learning experience, as she shares, “I didn’t expect to be so close to the action!”
Her placement in Radiology has taken her across multiple departments, including ED X-ray, ED Acute, Theatre, CT, MRI, and interventional imaging. In theatre, she observed procedures such as the reconstruction of a broken eye socket, where mobile imaging machines were used throughout to guide the process. Seeing Radiology in action during surgery was an exciting opportunity and one of many experiences that opened Dorothy’s eyes to the different ways healthcare professionals play a key role in patient care.
While undertaking orderly duties, Dorothy helped move patients and beds, and in ED triage, she was responsible for reading out names and directing patients to the right place. She says she especially loved being in ED and triage.
Originally planning to study Health Science, this experience has inspired Dorothy to pursue a Biomed degree specialising in Medical Imaging instead.
Rachel & Sam – Pharmacy Cadets
Rachel describes her cadetship as an eye-opening experience: “I have a strong understanding of pharmacy now and would be confident going into it.” During her placement, Rachel accompanied pharmacists on ward rounds, observing how they take patients’ medication histories and update their charts. She particularly enjoyed learning from their expertise and gaining insight into pharmacy as a career path.
One of the highlights for Rachel was working in the dispensary: “I didn’t even know what a dispensary was before this, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts.” She also enjoyed her rotation as an orderly, where she had the unexpected opportunity to observe a theatre procedure: “I imagined it would look like Grey’s Anatomy, but it was quite different, with little pods and super clean stations.”
For Sam, the cadetship shifted his perception of pharmacy: “I was interested in pharmacy, but I didn’t expect it to be like this. I thought it would be boring but it’s not at all!”
Going on rounds with pharmacists, interacting with patients, and seeing firsthand the vital role pharmacy plays in healthcare changed his perspective. “Pharmacists are so important, seeing patients, checking what they consume, and ensuring they get the right medications.”
Both Rachel and Sam are studying Health Science at the University of Auckland, and their experiences have helped shape their future career goals. For Rachel, the cadetship confirmed her interest in pharmacy, while for Sam, it has sparked an interest in specializing in pharmacy—or possibly even surgery.
Rita - Laboratories
Rita has had the opportunity to explore multiple departments within Laboratory Services, including Microbiology, Histology, and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). In Histology, she was captivated by the microscopic study of tissues and organs, involving processes like sectioning, staining, and examining samples under a microscope.
One of the standout highlights for Rita has been her experience in Phlebotomy. She enjoyed observing patient interactions and gaining a better understanding of the human side of healthcare. “I thought it was going to be like high school science class, but I was surprised at how broad and advanced it really is,” she reflects.
Rita has also enjoyed the chance to examine specimens and participate in hands-on tasks like cutting them up though she admits she's glad she didn't puke! Beyond the technical aspects, Rita has valued learning from the professionals she’s worked with, hearing about their career pathways, and understanding the broader impact of their work.
To learn more about our Middlemore Foundation Pacific Workforce Development Fund and explore the inspiring stories of our Health Science Scholarship recipients and more cadetship participants, click here.
Comments