James Cook High School
Health Sciences Academy
Mission Statement
James Cook High School is one of only two schools in the country who are piloting a Health Science Academy (HSA), funded by the Tindall Foundation, for Year 11-13 Maori and Pasifika students interested in careers in the health industry. The academy is part of the Grown Our Own Workforce initiative created by the Tindall Foundation and Counties Manukau District Health Board. Other key stakeholders include the Pasifika Medical Association, Solomon Group, MIT, AUT and the University of Auckland.
Vision
To produce 25 Maori and Pasifika students each year who are work and tertiary study ready, with a view to pathway them into the health workforce in South Auckland on or before 2015.
Background
In May 2009 the Tindall Foundation, as a follow up to the Job Summit, decided to explore opportunities to significantly improve access for low-income populations to work in the health care sector in South Auckland. Dr. Bret Halverson, a New Zealander who has spent the past 25 years working in the USA on innovative strategies for connecting disengaged young adults with the growth areas of the economy, was charged with implementing this major Sector Strategy workforce project.
By August 2009 a partnership had formed between the Tindall Foundation and the Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) to design and implement the “Grown Our Own Workforce” (GOOW) initiative. Included in the GOOW plan is a goal to source, support and employ 120 Maori and 120 Pacific high school students through training and into new graduate health positions by the end of 2015. The GOOW pipeline proposal was submitted to key stakeholders, including secondary schools, and in April 2010 James Cook High School was selected as one of two South Auckland schools to pilot a Health Academy on their campus.
By February 2011, a class of twenty nine Year 11 students had been selected and they became our HSA’s inaugural intake. The majority of these students have now graduated into the second year of the programme (Year 12) and a new group of thirty Year 11 students have entered the HSA for 2012.
Programme Outline
Each student has an Individualised Career Plan, however, the majority of students will follow the programme stated below:
|
Year
|
Subjects
|
Notes
|
|
11
|
Academy Science
English
Mathematics
Science
2 option subjects
|
· Students are taught together as one class for the first four subjects
· Students to achieve UE numeracy in Maths
· Option subjects can be non-health related
|
|
12
|
Academy Biology
Academy Chemistry
Academy Physics
English
Mathematics
1 option subject
|
· Students are taught together for the three Academy science disciplines
· Students to achieve UE literacy in English
· Option subject can be non-health related
|
|
13
|
Academy Biology
Academy Chemistry
Academy Physics
English
Stats or Calculus (if required)
1-2 option subjects
|
· Students are taught together for the three Academy science disciplines
· Option subject/s can be non-health related
|
Students will also have the opportunity to participate in the following:
- Extra homework sessions
- Tutoring sessions
- Exam practice sessions
- Study Skill courses
- Stress management courses
- Time management courses
- Work site visits (e.g. Middlemore Hospital, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Liggins Institute, Whare Oranga)
- Work experience / Gateway (Years 12-13)
- Health & Safety course
- First Aid Certificate course
- CPR Certificate course
- Public speaking course
- Personal Presentation course
If you would like to find out more details on the Health Science Academy at James Cook High School, please contact:
Joy Williams
Programme Co-ordinator
Health Sciences Academy
(09) 263950 x 843