Topic outline
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You've been allocated or maybe considering having a student for placement at your work place.
Listed below are a few items to help you plan and prepare for a successful placement.
Clinical Placement Unit (CPU)
The CPU is the University's central unit for managing health discipline clinical placements. CPU's website contains information for organisations and facilitators/supervisors of placement information and requirements communicated to students. Their role is to manage placement allocations, placement agreement deeds with organisations, communicate placement documentation and contacts to organisations, liaise with students about their allocated placement, student documentation compliance (known as condition evidence and outlined on the students 'passport to placement checklist').
Clinical grids These show the dates, otherwise referred to as placement blocks or clinics, when students can be expected to be on placement. The Clinical Placement Unit (CPU) and discipline Academics are best placed to support you in identifying what dates and year level would best suit you to host a student.
To contact them, email CPUOffice@unisa.edu.au
Develop an Orientation checklist
This is helpful in settling students into your organisation and for your staff so they are aware of what has been covered with the students. SA Health organisations have their own orientation checklist.
Getting to know your student
Your student most likely will be nervous. They are coming into a new workplace environment and will have a different level of knowledge to that of a newly employed skilled staff member. The student may have come from metro into a rural area and therefore having to adapt to a new home environment.
Spending time at the start with your student(s) will help pave the way for a successful placement experience for them, your staff and you. A good question is to ask your student(s) is how they prefer to learn. Some of the health Programs at UniSA get their students to complete the Honey & Mumford learning style quiz. If you haven't completed this for yourself, it's a good idea to as knowing how you prefer to learn will help you create a successful learning environment for others. The quiz also provides hints on how to get the best out of each learning style.
Student preparation
Metro to Rural - briefly mentioned, your student(s) may have come from metro to a rural environment. UniSA Department of Rural Health (DRH) provides support and access to interprofessional learning opportunities to students placed in rural locations. These students are also provided with a guide to assist them in preparing to go rural. Hospitals that offer accommodation are listed on InPlace (UniSA placement management system) against the students allocated placement.
Rural to Metro - students coming from Rural to Metro are encouraged to visit UniSA SEU for accommodation services. Students can also contact the Country Women's Association (CWA - Kent Town) to see what accommodation is available. ROUSTAH (rural student health club) is another group students are encouraged to connect with.
Student skills - prior to placement, students complete both theory and simulated practical experiences. Further details available through your students academic course coordinator.
Educational opportunities
Students undertaking a rural placement are provided the opportunity to participate in interprofessional learning. Face to face is delivered at Whyalla and Port Pirie by UniSA DRH staff. For students placed at all other rural locations, they have access to IPL through use of the health services video conference facilities and Zoom connections.
Students are also able to access the DRH moodle course site for further educational opportunities. Details communicated to students by the UniSA student support team.