Information, Analysis and Planning
Clinical Placement Study
Description and Objectives
Closing the gaps in the health workforce necessarily involves increasing student numbers, however this strategy will inturn place extra pressure on clinical placement providers. This HWA project has gathered data on the volume and type of clinical placement activity taking place across Australia for 2009 and 2010. This work has also considered the scope for growth in clinical placements by profession through consultation with relevant bodies.
The steps taken to complete this project were to:
- Survey all Australian universities that deliver professional entry health courses to provide their numbers of clinical training placements linked with their associated clinical training providers; and suggest projected and potential clinical training placement demand and supply
- Collect and verify data on current and planned clinical placement activity and student numbers
- Consult with universities to understand views on a range of factors, including: the potential for growth in student numbers and clinical placements; the barriers to growth; and types of investments required to achieve growth. The consultation took views of professional peak bodies.
Several key barriers to providing clinical placements were identified, as well as a range of opportunities to overcome these barriers. The data collected in this study will be used to inform the establishment of the baseline clinical activity for the HWA Clinical Training Funding program. The information collected will also be used by the Integrated Regional Clinical Training Networks to assist with the coordination, planning and facilitation of clinical placement activities.
Click on the following links to download the final reports:
- Mapping Clinical Placements: Capturing Opportunities for Growth: Supply (Clinical Training Provider) Study
- Mapping Clinical Placements: Capturing Opportunities for Growth: Demand (University) Study
HWA is assessing its options for the future collection of clinical placement data. It is anticipated a modified version of the Mapping Clinical Placement study will be conducted to collect data for 2011 and beyond.
Further Information
Deborah Brown
+61 8 8409 4628
