Successful Student Placements
Student placements can influence the future career path of new graduates. Community Health Services (CHS) placements provide opportunities for students to experience a multidisciplinary work environment, gain professional skills and develop an understanding of community health and what it has to offer the community and individuals.
Positive experiences of the sector serve to promote community health as a viable and attractive career option for newly qualified practitioners.
Successful placements depend on a number of factors and include:
- A learning culture being fostered within the organisation
- Recognising students as valid members of the health team
- Valuing the work and contribution of students to the organisation
- Acknowledging the role of supervisors in supporting students
- Adequate resources for student placement activities
- Educational institutions and CHS working together
Effective student placements require preparation and planning. There are coordination challenges and systemic and structural processes fundamental to successful student placements, including:
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Understanding and communicating to staff what makes a quality placement
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Understanding and communicating to staff the benefits of effective placements
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Key stakeholders (students, educational institutions and CHS) understanding and fulfilling their responsibilities
Examples of successful and student placement models are provided in 
the case studies below:
The Victorian Department of Human Service (DHS) has recently funded the Regional Student Placement Coordination Project for Community Health.
