How do clinical placements at UCRH contribute to the work readiness of occupational therapy graduates entering the workforce?

Commenced 2018

This is a qualitative study which forms part of the PhD being undertaken by Sarah Miles. It involved semi-structured interviews with six individual students, all occupational therapy graduates, after they commenced employment. They all completed their final placements through a university department of rural health between 2018 and 2019.

Preliminary findings suggest that graduates found this type of placement model developed a broad range of skills and attributes. Common themes included the value of the supervision model, including how educators facilitated the placement; the autonomy this provided and confidence this instilled in graduates. Time management skills, caseload management and communicating with stakeholders independently were identified as important elements of the model. Students are placed with peers and reported this promoted teamwork, inter-disciplinary learning, conflict resolution and giving feedback. Two out of the six graduates reported they gained the confidence to leave Sydney for their graduate year with many graduates commenting that being away from home promoted life skills such as organising themselves for work and being a worker.