The independently chaired Accreditation Committee (the committee) invites you to provide feedback on its draft guidance on embedding good practice in clinical placements, simulation-based learning and virtual care in initial student health practitioner education. These are important and necessary components of every health practitioner’s initial education as they help ensure graduates are equipped with the capabilities required for safe and contemporary health care practice.

Clinical placements provide students with opportunities to turn theoretical learning into practice, and to experience a range of workplace settings. They help students practise their skills and meet required learning outcomes, in a supportive environment, with levels of supervision, appropriate to the stage of their professional education.

Clinical placements can maximise student learning in a range of ways and may influence a student’s future choices about professional specialisation, location and area of practice, and can be an opportunity for students to learn and demonstrate cultural safety in a real-world environment.

Simulation-based learning can add significant value to learning for initial student health practitioners. Evidence also shows the importance of including content on virtual care in initial student health practitioner education curricula.

Health care is rapidly evolving. Health practitioner education must evolve to reflect changing community needs and expectations. Clinical placements, simulation-based learning and education in virtual care are central to a student health practitioner’s education to ensure they have the capabilities required for future practice.

The committee’s draft guidance provides an overview of evidence-based strategies for continuous improvement of student learning in these settings and activities. It draws on the best available evidence identified at the time of writing.

The aim of the guidance is to help National Scheme entities, in particular National Boards and accreditation authorities, improve student education in these areas.

To learn more and provide feedback, click this link: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/About-Ahpra/Who-We-Are/Ahpra-Board/Accreditation-Committee/Current-consultations.aspx