Care and Support Sector Nursing Clinical Placements Program

As part of the 2022-2023 Federal Budget, the Government announced funding for a Care and Support Sector Nursing Clinical Placements Program.

The objectives of the program are to:

i. support up to 5,250 Bachelor/Master of nursing students (prioritising second- and third-year students) with positive and well-supported clinical placements in the care and support sector, particularly aged care.

ii. a target of 2.86% will be set for First Nations students, in line with current First Nations representation in Bachelor/Master of nursing degrees.

iii. expose nursing students to the range of rich and rewarding career pathways in the care and support sector, particularly, gerontological nursing.

iv. build a cohort of nursing clinical facilitators with the skills and knowledge required to support successful student placements in the care and support sector.

v. strengthen relationships between Higher Education Providers and care and support sector providers, including over the longer term.

The program includes two key components (applicants can apply to deliver one or both components):

i. Delivering high-quality professional experience (clinical) placements for nursing students in the care and support sector – these are to be achieved through the establishment of collaborative working relationships between higher education providers and care and support sector providers and the engagement of nursing clinical facilitators to support students while on their placements.

ii. Development and hosting of an online hub with resources to assist students, clinical facilitators, supervisors and/or placement providers while students are on their placement.

The successful supplier/s will develop and deliver the program over two years, from early 2023 to June 2024, with an option to extend for 6 months (note, funding is allocated in the 2022-23 and 2023-23 financial years). Depending on the responses received, one or multiple suppliers will be engaged. Potential suppliers may include care and support sector peak bodies, higher education providers, higher education provider peaks, and nursing organisations. Consortia arrangements are encouraged.