Rethinking clinical placements: A response to changing healthcare demands

Authors

  • Joy Rudland The University of Otago, New Zealand
  • Julie Ash The University of Adelaide, Australia
  • Luke Barclay The University of Canberra, Australia
  • Jacqueline Bloomfield The University of Sydney, Australia
  • Fiona Bogossian University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
  • Kaylenne Byrne University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
  • Mary Butler University of South Australia, Australia
  • Anna Chur-Hansen The University of Adelaide, Australia
  • Scott Clark The University of Adelaide, Australia
  • Amanda Edgar Deakin University, Australia
  • Penelope Fotheringham The University of Newcastle, Australia
  • Roma Forbes The University of Queensland, Australia
  • Elyce Green Charles Sturt University, Australia
  • Navine Haworth Australian Chiropractic College, Australia
  • Richard Hays James Cook University, Australia
  • Belinda Judd University of Sydney, Australia
  • Priya Martin The University of Queensland, Australia
  • Rachel Macdiarmid Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
  • Clare McNally The University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Liz McNeill Flinders University, Australia
  • Richard McGee The University of Newcastle, Australia
  • Judith Needham Griffith University, Australia
  • Phillippa Poole University of Auckland, New Zealand
  • Jacqueline Raymond The University of Sydney, Australia
  • Melissa Ridd Flinders University, Australia
  • Adrian Schoo Flinders University, Australia
  • Michael Tran UNSW, Australia
  • Debra Virtue The University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Tim Wilkinson University of Otago, New Zealand
  • John Wright Flinders University, Australia
  • Danielle Ní Chróinín UNSW, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11157/fohpe-vol26iss1id782

Keywords:

education, teaching, students, multidisciplinary, clinical placements

Abstract

Clinical placements allow students the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and become workforce ready. Demand for clinical placements from education providers already exceeds supply. As healthcare workforce shortages continue, the need for increasing numbers of graduates will generate additional strain, and policymakers targeting health workforce shortages must be cognisant of their impact on the education and health sectors. At the same time, clinical placements must be fit for purpose and meet the learning needs of students. The diverse array of placement models has been compounded by rapid developments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges and considerations include labour intensity, need for capacity building, importance of engagement at institutional and local supervisor levels, cost (including that to students), planetary impact, availability and equity. The future of high-quality clinical placements needs to be secured and built on a sustainable framework to support future clinical placement capacity.

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2025-03-31

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Vol. 26 No. 1 (2025)

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Discussion Paper

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Rethinking clinical placements: A response to changing healthcare demands. (2025). Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Professional Journal, 26(1), 60-77. https://doi.org/10.11157/fohpe-vol26iss1id782
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