Ireland — Galway University Hospitals (GUH) are set to host a virtual careers evening aimed at secondary school pupils interested in pursuing professions within health and social care. The online event, scheduled for Thursday from 6pm to 9pm, will introduce students to a range of clinical and support disciplines, including Physiotherapy, Social Work, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Nutrition and Dietetics.
According to GUH, the session is structured to give attendees a realistic understanding of what these professions involve, extending far beyond the information typically found in university brochures. Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with qualified practitioners who deliver patient care daily across the Irish healthcare system.
Insight from Professionals and Current Students
In addition to meeting frontline staff, students will hear from undergraduates currently enrolled in programmes linked to these disciplines. Their contribution aims to shed light on academic workload, placement expectations and what student life is like within Ireland’s health-sciences education pathway. Research published in the BMJ Open has highlighted that early contact with practising professionals significantly improves clarity in career decision-making among young people considering health-related fields.
Medical social worker Deirdre Jennings emphasised the broader purpose of the initiative, noting that career guidance in healthcare has a strong human dimension. She stated that allowing younger individuals to connect with experienced clinicians helps them understand the “compassion, skill and service” at the centre of patient care.
Speech and language therapist Fiona Rodgers added that feedback from previous editions of the event has been consistently positive. Past attendees have reportedly appreciated insights into the daily realities of healthcare work — details that are often absent from written course descriptions or university prospectuses.
A Broader Reach Through Digital Access
Organisers highlight that holding the event online increases accessibility for students across Ireland who might otherwise be unable to attend in person. This aligns with findings in educational literature showing that virtual career interventions can expand participation and improve equity in access to information (OECD Education Working Papers).
The meeting will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, with access provided via meeting ID 338 411 167 795 60 and password Tc3HK3Ta. GUH has also confirmed that recorded sessions will remain available on the Galway University Hospitals HSCP Career Info YouTube channel, ensuring that students who cannot attend live will still benefit from the programme.
Supporting the Next Generation of Healthcare Workers
As Ireland continues to experience growing demand for health professionals across multiple specialities, initiatives like this offer a pathway for students to make informed choices about their futures. By presenting transparent, experience-based information, GUH aims to encourage the next generation to consider roles that support patients, strengthen communities and contribute to the ongoing development of the country’s healthcare system.