The Healthcare Career Fair - A Showcase Of Employment And Training Opportunities In The Industry

07 Feb 2003

School leavers and people seeking mid-career changes can look forward to employment and training opportunities in the healthcare industry at the first-ever Healthcare Career Fair. The professions to be featured comprise Nurses (Enrolled and Registered Nurses), Allied Health Professionals (Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Diagnostic Radiographers and Radiation Therapists), and Healthcare Assistants. Details of the event are as follows:

Date : 14 and 15 February 2003 (Friday and Saturday)

Time : 10:00am to 7:00pm

Venue : Suntec City Concourse (Level 3)

Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Health and Second Minister for Finance is the Guest of Honour for the event. Mr Lim will arrive at 11:00am to officiate the opening ceremony and to tour the fair.

A partnership between the people, public and private sectors

The event is organised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM), together with the following Healthcare Institutions - National Healthcare Group (NHG), Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd (SingHealth), Ang Mo Kio Hospital, Bright Vision Hospital, St. Andrew's Community Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital for the Elderly and Parkway Group Healthcare. The event is also supported by the following organisations:

- Institute of Technical Education (ITE)

- Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)

- National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)

- Singapore Nurses Association

- Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists

- Singapore Physiotherapy Association

- Speech-Language and Hearing Association (Singapore)

Manpower Demands in the Healthcare Industry

There are currently more than 30,000 people employed in the healthcare sector. As our population ages and as Singapore poises herself for development as a medical and biomedical hub, there will be increasing demand for trained personnel across the sector, particularly for Nurses, Allied Health Professionals and Healthcare Assistants. This demand is in fact already being felt. For instance, in the public healthcare sector alone, there are some 400 positions to be filled out of 10,500 available posts in these areas. The challenge for the industry is to attract more local workers to enter this sector and to build up the pool of local capabilities through appropriate skills upgrading and training.

Fair Highlights

The 'Job Demonstration Areas' will showcase 'live' demonstrations of tasks performed by trained healthcare personnel. Job seekers may gain hands-on experience in tasks such as wound care and other patient care activities such as assessments and treatments for hand therapy and 'saving' a 'patient' using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in an 'emergency situation'. These demonstrations will provide job seekers with insights on the nature of work on offer.

Given the specialised and critical nature of work in the healthcare sector, both pre- and in-employment training are necessary to ensure that recruits can cope with their responsibilities effectively and render a proficient level of service to patients under their care. Potential recruits interested in employment as healthcare assistants can look forward to job vacancies and on-the-job training upon recruitment by healthcare institutions present at the fair. Individuals without work experience in the industry but are keen on embarking on careers as Nurses or Allied Health Professionals can explore the many training opportunities available to build a career in the relevant areas. Attractive incentives are also available in the form of scholarships or bursaries, including secured employment after completion of the training.

Additionally, industry professionals will conduct a series of talks highlighting the attractiveness of the featured professions on both days of the fair.

The finalised schedule of job demonstrations and talks will be made available nearer the event date. Job seekers can visit www.employmenttown.gov.sg or call MOM's Jobs Hotline at Tel: 6883 5885 for more details.