Sophie Cain is yet another success story of Cobar High School’s school-based traineeship program.
Before she completes Year 12 this year, Sophie already knows where her career will take her, and it’s here, working in Cobar.
Sophie wants to be a Registered Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner.
To achieve her career goal, Sophie is completing a two-year school-based traineeship working as an AIN (Assistant in Nursing) with Western NSW Local Health District staff at the Cobar Health Service one day a week.
She also spends four hours extra each week studying online through TAFE NSW.
Sophie is juggling work, school, and study at the same time.
“All of our schoolwork is online, so I just catch it up in my own time,” Sophie said.
“I’ve got a nice system going.
“My calendar’s full and I’ve got everything sorted,” Sophie said.
Now into the second year of her traineeship, Sophie has already completed 72 days of her 100 days of training.
Cobar Health Services Acting Manager Mele Kaufusi said Sophie has shown great commitment and dedication in her role.
“Everyone, all of the nurses, are so proud of Sophie,” Mele said.
“Sophie completed extra hours during the school holidays, she worked before and after Christmas.
“Sophie talks about purpose, and investment in the community, and has passion.”
It seems Sophie also has a kind heart and caring nature and knows the importance of good communication when working in a team.
In her supervised role she’s been helping nurses on the ward and in the emergency department, helping to shower patients, carry out regular clinical observations, and wound care.
“And making lots and lots of notes,” Sophie said.
Now in her second year, she’s been given more responsibility with point of care at patients’ bedsides and helping to record patient data on the computer.
Sophie said while she might not have been certain about what she wanted to do when she first started her school-based apprenticeship, she’s now definitely sure that’s the career path she wants to take.
“I love it, and I just want to work full time.”
And when she’s completed her traineeship, Sophie can undertake more study next year through TAFE to be an Enrolled Nurse and hopefully continue working at the Cobar Health Service.
Mele said the school-based traineeship program not only provides benefits for students wanting to test the water in a nursing career, but it also benefits the wider community with regards to long term recruitment.
“It’s really hard to bring nurses out here,” Mele said.
“We’re trying to grow our own nurses by encouraging them and training them here.”
And there’s plenty of proof that the program is a success as four other Cobar High school-based trainees have gone on to further studies in Nursing in the last three years.
Molly Carter and Molly Broughton, who graduated from the program in November 2024, are now both in their second year of studying Nursing at the University of Newcastle.
Another 2024 graduate, Tiarna Jones, is studying at Wollongong and Malina Bottom, who, like Tiarna, completed her school-based traineeship last year working at the Lilliane Brady Village and Cobar Health Service, is in her first year of Nursing at Bathurst’s Charles Sturt University.