Growing Together: Allied Health Interprofessional Immersion Placements In Remote NSW - Opportunities And Challenges

Internationally, and in Australia, interprofessional education (IPE) is being championed as an innovative approach for addressing communities’ complex needs and tackling various contemporary healthcare challenges, including those in RRCs. Building Allied Health student capacity in interprofessional practice and cultural responsivity has been a key strategic initiative for the School of Health and Human Sciences (SHHS), at Southern Cross University. In this paper we describe the placement model that SHHS, has implemented with the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH), Broken Hill - Far Western Region and local communities of Bourke, Goodooga and Lightning Ridge. The model varies from traditional student placement with innovative student-led interprofessional immersion experiences, including support strategies such as interprofessional tele-supervision sessions. We present a case study of the health projects that students implemented at the Goodooga Central School over a 7-week block in 2018.