Our School Based Traineeship Program  offers real-world experience on-the-job, while completing a Certificate III qualification. Year 11 and 12 students will complete one day per week in paid work experience (375 hours equivalent) at one of our facilities.

Students will receive points towards a Queensland Certificate of Education (GCE) and the program can also contribute to their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR). Students do not need to be ATAR eligible to apply for a traineeship. After the traineeship job opportunities may be available for students.

Role opportunities

The 2026 program will offer School Based Traineeships in Allied Health Assistance, Dental Assisting and Administration. Applications will open September 2025.

Allied Health Assistance

Certificate III Allied Health Assistance

With this qualification you could work as a Clinical Assistant. Clinical Assistants support and assist Allied Health Professionals (including Audiologists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Social Workers and Speech Pathologists) with their day-to-day patient care and operational tasks including patient health care programming, treatment plans and therapeutic support.

The Allied Health Assistance traineeship is offered at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Nambour General Hospital and Gympie Hospital.

You can find out more about the Allied Health Assistance career pathway at Choose Your Own Health Career.

Dental Assisting

Certificate III in Dental Assisting

With this qualification you could work as a Dental Assistant. Dental Assistants work as part of a wider dental team, including Dentists and Oral Health Therapists treating children and adults. Dental Assistants help support patients, assist with dental procedures, and keep everyone safe with cleaning of the clinic and equipment.

The Dental Assisting traineeship is offered at Caloundra Health Service.

You can find out more about the dental assisting career pathway at Choose Your Own Health Career.

Administration

Certificate III Health Administration

With this qualification you could work as an Administration Officer Administration Officers play a critical role in supporting the daily operations of Sunshine Coast Health. Including welcoming patients, coordinating admissions, managing medical records and scheduling appointments. Their work enables clear communication, seamless coordination, and a supportive experience for patients, staff across departments and wards.

The administration traineeship is offered at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Nambour General Hospital and Gympie Hospital.

You can find out more about the administration career pathway at Choose Your Own Health Career.

You can find out more about roles and careers in health at the Choose Your Own Health Career website and the Queensland Health Careers website.

How to apply

Applications for the 2026 School Based Traineeship Program will open Sepetember 2025.

Before applying

  • Talk to your parents and your school (VET coordinator and teachers) about this fantastic opportunity. Tell them why you would like to apply for a School Based Traineeship with us and ask if they would support your participation in our program.
  • Ensure you can get to your nominated Sunshine Coast Health Facility one day per week. We will review the distance from your home address to the selected facility when assessing your application. You should only apply for a traineeship at a facility within your local area.

Application

To apply you will need to complete:

  • The application form, including the following information:
    • your personal details and the details for your parent/guardian
    • your reason for application
    • your interest in a career in health
    • skills you have gained through part-time work, volunteering, hobbies or sport.
Do you require additional assistance with your application?

If you need assistance with your application please email sc-diversity-inclusion@health.qld.gov.au.

Diversity and inclusion

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workplace for our people and our community. Find out more about what it's like to work with us.

Role opportunities

We offer School Based Traineeships in Allied Health Assistance and Dental Assisting.

Allied Health Assistance

With a Certificate III Allied Health Assistance qualification, you could work as a Clinical Assistant. Clinical Assistants support and assist Allied Health Professionals (including Audiologists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Social Workers and Speech Pathologists) with their day-to-day patient care and operational tasks including patient health care programming, treatment plans and therapeutic support.

The Allied Health Assistance traineeship is offered at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Nambour General Hospital and Gympie Hospital.

You can find out more about the Allied Health Assistance career pathway at Choose Your Own Health Career.

Dental Assisting

With a Certificate III in Dental Assisting, you could work as a Dental Assistant. Dental Assistants work as part of a wider dental team, including Dentists and Oral Health Therapists treating children and adults. Dental Assistants help support patients, assist with dental procedures, and keep everyone safe with cleaning of the clinic and equipment.

The Dental assisting traineeship is offered at Caloundra Health Service.

You can find out more about the dental assisting career pathway at Choose Your Own Health Career.

You can find out more about other roles and careers in health at the Choose Your Own Health Career website and the Queensland Health Careers website.

Eligibility

School Based Traineeships are open to;

  • current Year 10 students with the ability to commit to a 2-year school based traineeship, across Year 11 and Year 12. You must have the skills, ability and self-motivation to work towards completing a Certificate III qualification prior to finishing your school education and attend the workplace one day per week.
  • students with a genuine interest in health – completing a school based traineeship will allow you the opportunity to explore your pathway into a career in Health.

If you are in Year 10 in 2025 and interested in joining the program in 2026:

  • Monitor this page for updates. Information about the role opportunities for the 2026 intake will be released here in August/September 2025.
  • Talk to your parents and your school (VET coordinator and teachers) about this fantastic opportunity. Tell them why you would like to apply for a School Based Traineeship with us and ask if they would support your participation in our program.

If you have questions about the School Based Traineeship Program at Sunshine Coast Health please email us at sc-diversity-inclusion@health.qld.gov.au.

How to apply

You must complete the application form by Tuesday 1 October 2024.

Please do not use artificial intelligence (Chat GPT or similar) to write your responses.  Applications must be completed by the student and not a parent / guardian / school representative.

If you require assistance with your application, please email sc-diversity-inclusion@health.qld.gov.au to discuss your needs.

Traineeship students

Selected students will become an employee of Australian Training Company – our partner Group Training Organisation (GTO), who provide the legal and insurance cover required.

You will attend your placement at a Sunshine Coast Health facility one day per week (Monday to Friday), on the same day each week. This means you will miss a day of normal schooling each week.

We will assign you an on-the-job supervisor. Your supervisor will show you how to perform tasks, assign you tasks to complete and assess your workplace competency.

You will complete the required theory learning through TAFE and must manage this with on-the-job practical training and your school workload.

Print resources

This information is available in pdf format for printing / emailing.

Last updated: May 2025

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