Pictured Above: UDRH SW Staff playing Who Cares?- Card Game
What does a speech pathologist do? Where might a physiotherapist work beyond rehabilitation? And which healthcare professionals use a stethoscope, work in aged care or help with a broken toe?
A new card game developed by the University Department of Rural Health South West (UDRH SW) is helping answer these questions in a fun and interactive way, encouraging players to challenge what they know about healthcare professions.
The Who Cares? card game grew from conversations about how to engage high school students in exploring healthcare careers. UDRH SW Lecturer, Ari Aldus developed the initial concept for a collaborative game that would encourage players to share their knowledge, learn from one another and think beyond common stereotypes about healthcare roles.
Developed alongside UDRH SW Communications and Promotions Coordinator Jade Bullock, the game features cards representing different healthcare professions, alongside four categories: tools, locations, activities and referrals.
Players take turns matching cards representing different categories to a healthcare profession. ‘Tools’ might include stethoscopes, medication charts or pupil torches, while ‘locations’ could range from hospitals and aged care facilities to privately owned practices.
Players can consult an online answer guide when they are unsure, but there is also room for discussion. If a player can justify their choice, they can play the card, encouraging participants to consider the diverse settings and responsibilities associated with each profession.
The game has undergone team playthroughs, incorporating feedback from UDRH SW staff and health professionals. Following positive feedback and several rounds of play, the concept has progressed to a professionally printed card game.
For Jade Bullock, seeing the idea develop into a physical resource has been particularly rewarding.
“Seeing an idea develop from an initial concept into a physical card game has been incredibly rewarding. It’s something we can now play with our families and clients, making conversations about healthcare careers more engaging and accessible,” Jade said.
The Who Cares? card game expands UDRH SW’s resources for engaging high school students and introducing them to the breadth of healthcare careers available.
By making learning collaborative and hands-on, the game encourages students to question assumptions, discover less familiar professions and explore how different healthcare professionals work together to support patients and communities.
It also offers an engaging resource for career advisers, providing a practical way to start conversations about healthcare study and career pathways. The game can help students understand the healthcare system from both a consumer and future workforce perspective.
The game will be introduced at an upcoming UDRH SW event for career advisers, where participants will learn how to play and receive a copy to use with their students.
Through initiatives like Who Cares?, UDRH SW continues to develop innovative ways to spark career curiosity, connect students with healthcare opportunities and inspire the next generation of health professionals in the South West.
