Queensland Health's Deadly Start traineeship boosts Indigenous health workforce in the North West
The Deadly Start program has graduated its first cohort of seven First Nations students in North West Queensland, giving them paid health traineeships and qualifications while they finish high school.
Queensland Health’s Deadly Start initiative has successfully guided its inaugural group of seven First Nations students through a paid, school-based health traineeship, marking the largest local cohort since the program began in 2023. All participants completed the 2025-26 cycle, earning a Certificate II in health support and accruing 375 hours of paid work across maternity, allied health, and aged-care settings in places such as Normanton, Cloncurry and Mount Isa.
The program aims to build a sustainable regional workforce by training youths who already have strong community ties, a goal echoed by Indigenous workforce coordinator Shannon McConachie. Students like Melinda Burns reported increased confidence and practical skills after weekly hospital placements and holiday shifts. Early graduates are already re-entering the health system through cadetships, tertiary studies, and leadership tracks, while others have moved into aged-care and youth services across the area. Burns intends to work at her local aged-care facility or the upcoming renal unit in Normanton after finishing school.
Why it matters
Training Indigenous youth locally helps address chronic health-staff shortages in remote Queensland communities.
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