Western Sydney University
Medical, nursing, paramedicine and other allied health students from Western Sydney University are delivering all-important COVID-19 vaccinations to Year 12 students from across Sydney's south-west and west – a move aimed to help protect the HSC students' health and keep their final-year studies on track.
More than 70 students from across the University's healthcare disciplines have put their hands up to be part of the 'Western students for Western students' initiative, being coordinated by Western Sydney Local Health District, which is vaccinating affected Year 12s from across the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of concern.
The Western Sydney University students form part of a much-needed surge workforce to support the new mass vaccination hub at Qudos Bank Arena.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Health and Medicine at Western Sydney University, Distinguished Professor Annemarie Hennessy AM, said students from across the University's healthcare disciplines were more than ready, willing and able to roll up their sleeves in support of NSW's fight against this latest COVID-19 outbreak.
"When we put the call out to be part of a program to fast-track vaccinations for Year 12s from across the affected LGAs, many of our students came forward wanting to put their skills to use and help," said Professor Hennessy.
"This is an excellent initiative that is set to make an enormous difference to the students and our local communities of western and south-western Sydney at this critical time.
"It will lift vaccination rates and help keep our Year 12 students – who have had their learning so disrupted by this pandemic – safe in the classroom and able to focus on their final year exams."
Professor Hennessy said the commitment is another practical way the University is supporting the extraordinary COVID-19 health response underway across Greater Western Sydney, having already rapidly established testing clinics on our Parramatta campus and continuing to support our Local Health Districts, on the ground.
"At the heart of this response is our students, the majority of whom hail from the region themselves. They have shown time and time again they understand and are passionate about standing with their local communities – particularly within our heartland of southwest and western Sydney – and are eager to meet and overcome the challenges created by this pandemic, together," she said.
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