High school students from south-west Sydney have traded classrooms for cutting-edge laboratories at the Ingham Institute, diving headfirst into the world of medical research as part of the Animal Research Education and Awareness (AREA) program.

In collaboration with the Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program, the Institute opened its doors to students from years 9 to 12 at Mount Annan High School, offering a behind-the-scenes look into medical research and laboratory animal science.

Rhonda Stone, who represents RIEP in the region, said the program was designed to highlight pathways in health, beyond the well-known careers of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.

“Medical research covers so many different areas, and experiences like these can open their eyes and help them to decide what they want to do in the future,” she said.

Alison Richards, the Institute’s Biological Resources Manager, said the program helped students learn how animals are ethically used in research and how those practices contribute to lifesaving discoveries.

“It is a program that allows students, teachers and anyone interested in the biomedical side to have the chance to visit and talk to professionals and get information about the care and use of animals in research,” she said.

“We give students the chance to think about what their next steps are and experience first-hand what it is like in a biomedical research laboratory.”

With more than 350 scientists, doctors and students working across 40 research teams, the Ingham Institute is at the forefront exploring new medical approaches across cancer, clinical science, community, population health and childhood development, injury and rehabilitation and mental health.

Students got to see the work up close, from examining how cells are studied and treated, to observing animal care standards and discussing ethical research practices.

For Year 10 student Natalie, the visit could be highly significant for her future career path.

“I've always been fascinated by the medical field, the skills people need to do their jobs and how they all work together,” she said.

“It’s helping me decide which career to take, and it’s also helped me decide which pathway I want to go. I’ll try to get early entry into university, take a science degree, try to find a job while I'm studying, and find a place like this to work.”

Year 11 students Olivia found value in the visit for her current studies.

“I signed up for today’s visit because it will be beneficial to my biology studies,” Olivia said.

Laina said she thought the experience would, “help me in the future with my job choices”.

For Year 10 student Kaea, considering studying veterinary nursing or zoology, the visit reinforced her ambitions.

“I really enjoyed going through the labs. I thought it was cool to find out new things,” she said.

Mount Annan High School careers advisor Janice Jakab said programs like those offered by the institute were invaluable for students.

“It opens a whole variety of career paths that students may not have thought of otherwise. It provides them with valuable insights into a largely unknown industry,” she said.

“I hope it tickles their curiosity and prompts them to explore further.

“As career advisors, we are eager to involve our students in as many programs like these as possible, so they can make informed decisions about the subjects they choose for years 11 and 12 and their future career paths, whether at TAFE or university.”

The Institute’s Events and Fundraising Manager, Ellie Pavlov, said the program played a key role in breaking barriers.

“We want students to know that you don’t need to start with a medical degree,” she said.

“You could begin with engineering, IT, or through a VET pathway - there are so many entry points into this field.”

The Ingham Institute and RIEP program teams plan to further develop the program, offering work experience opportunities to interested students.