Placement Overview
Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is committed to building a sustainable future health workforce to meet the health needs of the north coast community. We embrace the diverse skills and perspectives that our people bring to the workplace. This includes students on placement across our health facilities and services. We foster inclusiveness and diversity to help us deliver quality care to our community.
A key strategy is to support students on clinical placement with a quality training and learning experience that will better prepare them for their roles as future clinicians in the workforce. NNSWLHD works closely with a number of NSW regional, cross-border and metropolitan universities who share an interest in the development of the north coast region’s future health workforce.
The hosting of students on placement within NNSWLHD plays a vital part in contributing to the development emerging future health professionals.
Workplace education and training provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge, skills and competencies learnt at university, college or TAFE. At NNSWLHD we enjoy active participation and co-operation with many stakeholders including students, education providers, clinicians and supervisors as well as our patients and community to deliver quality clinical training programs.
The NNSWLHD has dedicated clinical supervisors, educators and coordinators who aim to support students achieve a valuable and satisfying experience. We recognise that students represent renewal of the workforce, and also benefit our organisation through application of contemporary theoretical learning and evidence-based practice, applied in a supervised setting.
On an annual basis NNSWLHD hosts an estimated 2,000 students from 22 health science disciplines, who utilise 3,000 clinical placements offered across 12 health service facilities.
The approach taken by NNSWLHD in planning and accepting student placements includes the consideration of:
• NNSWLHD Student Placement Agreements (SPAs) with Education Providers
• Capacity to accommodate students within service/ ward /unit
• Student category (Undergraduate/Postgraduate Year), clinical supervision requirements and capacity
• Alignment of the students’ placement learning objectives with service learning opportunities/activities
• Patient care and service delivery considerations
• Future health workforce priorities
• Students living and studying within the region
NNSWLHD has established partnerships with a number of Education Providers. If you would like to know more about NNSWLHD Student Placement Agreements (SPAs) please email NNSWLHD-ClinConnectHelpDesk@health.nsw.gov.au.
If you are a student interested in completing a placement in a NNSWLHD facility, speak with your Education Provider about future opportunities. Your Education Provider will need to liaise with NNSWLHD to organise your placement – at least 12 weeks in advance.
NNSWLHD only accepts students on clinical placement that are: part of the Education Provider formal course curriculum and are organised by the Education Provider through ClinConnect and in accordance with NSW Health and NNWLDH Student Placement Policies.
Further information relating to student placements can be found at NSW Health Student Placements Central.
NNSWLHD Resources for Student Placements
NNSWLHD has developed a number of generic student placement materials that are applicable to both education providers and students completing clinical placements in our health facilities. These materials include:
NNSWLHD Student Orientation Handbook 2023
The NNSWLHD Student Orientation Handbook outlines the core requirements of health students attending placements across NNSWLHD health facilities and services. Information includes:
• preplacement requirements including compliance and verification
• roles and responsibilities of the NNSWLHD and students relating to placement
• how to access NNSWLHD systems and applications
• mandatory training requirements, eLearning accessed via HETI My Health Learning (MHL)
• what to expect on placement – first day checklist
Education providers are to provide a copy of the NNSWLHD orientation handbook to students in preparation of their placement. If students commence placement without reading the handbook, their NNSWLHD supervisor will provide a copy which they must then sign the declaration and have countersigned.
Student Orientation Checklist
NNSWLHD Student Orientation Checklist 2023
The Student Orientation Checklist provides generic information including requirements on Day 1, ClinConnect, site requirements, communication systems, safety and security, information technology, My Health Learning (MHL) – mandatory eLearning training modules, work health & safety and Infection control.
Supervisors/Facilitator Resources
NNSWLHD Internal Clinical Facilitator (ICF) Role Guide
The purpose of this Guide is to define the roles and requirements of an Internal Clinical Facilitator (ICF) who provides clinical supervision, teaching, evaluation/assessment and support of undergraduate and post graduate clinical health science students on placement in NNSWLHD facilities. This Guide also provides advice to the ICF about the governance of NNSWLHD Student Clinical Placements.
NNSWLHD External Clinical Facilitator (ECF) Role Guide
The purpose of this Guide is to define the roles and requirements of an External Clinical Facilitator (ECF) – i.e., non NNSWLHD employee, who provides clinical supervision, teaching, evaluation/assessment and support of undergraduate and post graduate clinical health science students on placement in NNSWLHD facilities. This Guide also provides advice to the ECF about the governance of NNSWLHD Student Clinical Placements.
NNSWLHD Student Clinical Placement Compliance Checklist
The NNSWLHD Student Clinical Placement Compliance Checklist outlines the compliance requirements for students doing a clinical placement in a NNSWLHD Facility. Students are to ensure these compliance requirements are met well in advance to ensure their placement goes ahead as planned.
Discipline specific and/or site/service student information
Discipline and/or site orientation materials may be uploaded and/or linked onto this intranet site. Refer to the headings/tabs as listed below:
• Nursing and Midwifery – OurNAMS
• Allied Health
• Oral Health
• Medicine
Student Placement Feedback
The NNSWLHD welcomes feedback about student placement experiences to ensure we continually improve and develop our programs. Students may be given feedback evaluation surveys by their supervisor or education provider – which we encourage you to complete.
HETI Student Placements Central
The HETI Student Placements Central website provides information for arranging, administering and completing a student placement in NSW Health.
Other student education and training opportunities
The NNSWLHD is working to expand the education and training opportunities offered to students.
NNSWLHD Work Experience – Secondary Student Placements
Work experience exposes students to a variety of roles within the health care industry. It aims to assist students in making an informed decision about their available options and preferred career choice. The NNSWLHD Work Experience Secondary Student Placement procedure outlines the governance, responsibilities, process and onboarding requirements relating to work experience student placements in the NNSWLHD.