Meet the future generation of health managers at Western Sydney Local Health District

Four health management graduates are getting mentored by the best in the business, as they undertake a two-year traineeship with senior executive staff across Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD).

The interns will rotate between a variety of management areas, including the executive unit, hospital operations, human resources and finance, during a full-time health management graduate program over two years.

Erynn Johnson, 23, is currently working in the Office of the Chief Executive, after recently moving from Sydney from Canberra for the opportunity.

“The health management graduate program provides a great opportunity to develop and grow your management skills within a health service,” Erynn said.

“We are receiving so much support and mentoring from the chief executive Graeme Loy and the executive team.

“Working alongside Graeme, I have exposure to whole of district corporate and clinical operations which is quite a unique experience.

“My rotation within the Office of the Chief Executive has been invaluable to my development as a future leader and manager within the health system.

“The district is undergoing a lot of transformational change and growth, which makes this role a very exciting opportunity to be involved in.”

The interns perform duties such as preparing complex briefs for hospital management and NSW Health, contributing to business cases, analysing data, managing finance matters, coordinating strategic meetings for senior staff and getting involved in some large scale projects.

WSLHD Office of the Chief Executive director Tiffany Sly said the program will help the graduates gain skills and experience “for a challenging and successful career” by being immersed in day-to-day health management, as well as attending training sessions, health conferences and developing a support framework.

“These motivated and talented people combine their studies with on-the-job work commitments in either an operational or finance directorate,” Tiffany said.

“We hope to see these enthusiastic student graduates flourish and retain full-time employment with the district. Health is a rewarding and important career, and we hope to capture and train up talented staff to focus on health management.”

Each postgraduate student is undertaking a Masters of Health Service Management with the University of Tasmania.