Erin Woodman

Men's Health Promotion Coordinator - Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

When did you graduate?

2007

Course you completed:

Bachelor of Health Science majoring in disability studies, health promotion and psychology.

Organisation that you are currently working for:

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

How long have you been working for this organisation?

Since July 2008.

Position title and short job description:

Men’s Health Promotion Coordinator at the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). My role involves working with a wide range of stakeholders including:

• government,
• PCFA colleagues,
• community organisations and businesses including graphic designers, evaluation consultants, web developers and printers

to successfully run the National Men’s Health Ambassador Speaker Program.

Working highlight so far:

1. My paper on the National Men’s Health Ambassador Speaker Program being accepted for a presentation at the Australian Health Promotion Conference in May 2009.
2. Organising Ambassador training weekends around Australia and travelling all around the country to train Volunteer Ambassador Speakers for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
3. Supporting over 85 volunteers in the community.

What do you intend to do in the future?

In the future I would like to gain further experience in health promotion working in the community sector. I am still not 100% sure of where my career will take me and that is the beauty of the health industry, there are so many pathways that you can take. I look forward to further developing my knowledge and skills. I am passionate about health promotion and love working in a role where I am involved in such an important community education/health promotion program that has the capacity to change people’s lives.

#1 tip for current students studying your course:

To try and get as much practical experience as possible. Unfortunately work placement is not compulsory to students undertaking the Bachelor of Health Science degree and you have to show the initiative to organise a placement yourself.

I would recommend gaining volunteer work in community organisations in each year of the degree. In first year it may be just an observational placement, in second year it may be a practical placement assisting a staff member and third year may be running a mini project.

I would also highly recommend undertaking an honours year in the  Bachelor of Health Science Degree to further your learning, develop more links within the community sector and gain valuable research skills.