SPEECH BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MDDI, AND MOH, AT THE HMI INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES' GRADUATION CEREMONY

Dr Gan See Khem, Executive Chairman & Group Managing Director, HMI Medical

Ms Chin Wei Jia, Group CEO, HMI Medical

Graduands

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

1.     Good afternoon. I am so delighted to be able to join you today at HMI Institute’s annual graduation ceremony and learners’ showcase.

2.     Today, we celebrate not just the technical skills you have acquired, but also the compassion and adaptability that you have honed. These qualities will serve you well as you embark on your careers in the public healthcare and community care sectors.

3.     We are amidst a pivotal transformation of Singapore’s healthcare landscape. With Healthier SG, we are strengthening preventive health and community-based care. Through Age Well SG, we are spearheading initiatives for seniors to live long and live well. Healthcare workers like yourselves will play a central role in this nationwide effort, to help Singaporeans live healthier, age with grace, and receive care closer to home.

4.     In Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, where I serve as a Member of Parliament, I have also seen first-hand how skilled and compassionate healthcare workers uplift patients and their families. The work that you do will not only matter in the healthcare institutions, but also in our neighbourhoods and homes.

5.     As you begin your journey in healthcare, the road ahead may be challenging – it may not be smooth sailing from the start. However, I am confident that you will rise above the challenges and learn new skills along the way. There are numerous career development opportunities to look forward to, from front-facing roles to administrative support. You are not alone in this journey; the employers here with us today will invest in and support your career growth every step of the way. You have chosen a career of meaningful service, and I am excited as you embark on a career in healthcare.

HMI Institute and Employer Partnerships

6.     I would like to commend HMI Institute for your steadfast commitment in building Singapore’s healthcare and community care workforce. Since 2002, HMI Institute has trained over 400,000 individuals to take on meaningful roles across various care settings. This has involved designing training programmes that meet industry standards and needs, and working closely with many employer partners to shape competency-based training programmes. 

7.     Beyond these partnerships, HMI Institute has also developed programmes such as the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes and job redesign initiatives to expand job opportunities for Singaporeans to support workforce transformation.

8.     These initiatives would not have been possible without the support of the organisations who open their doors to learners and provide them with meaningful on-the-job experiences, including the three healthcare clusters – National University Health System (NUHS), NHG Health and Singapore Health Services – as well as community care providers like NTUC Health Nursing Home, Ren Ci Hospital, St Luke's Eldercare Centres and the Society for the Physically Disabled.

Inspiration

9.     To our graduates today, your journey has not been easy. Some of you switched careers mid-way, taking a bold step into healthcare. Others had to balance family responsibilities, night shifts, work and study. Your perseverance and resilience embody the courage it takes to embrace lifelong learning.

10. As you begin the next phase in your careers, always remember that the heart of healthcare lies in compassion. Often, it is the small acts like washing a patient’s hair, listening to their worries, offering comfort, or going the extra mile that leave the deepest impact in the road to recovery.

11. While challenges will come, I am confident that the values and competencies you have gained will help you rise above them.

Closing

12. Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2025!

13. I wish you every success as you embark on this meaningful journey of care and service. Thank you.