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Rural Immersion Placements Help Develop Critical, Community-Focussed Allied Health Students: A Qualitative Study of
Luke Wakely1, Susan Heaney1, Julie Burrows1
1Department of Rural Health, The University of Newcastle, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
Objective:
To explore allied health students' perspectives on rural immersion placements facilitated by the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health (UONDRH), and how these experiences influence learning quality and rural career intent.
Setting:
Four rural UONDRH sites across New South Wales, Australia, where students undertook extended placements ranging from 12 weeks to a full academic year.
Participants:
Sixty final-year allied health students from nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, medical radiation sciences, physiotherapy, and speech pathology programs.
Design:
A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted post-placement. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis, supported by field notes and student co-analysis to enhance rigour and authenticity.
Results:
Four themes emerged: (1) Focusing inwards-students initially prioritised their own needs; (2) Focusing nearby-support networks and interprofessional learning enriched the experience; (3) Focusing outward-community engagement fostered critical reflection and cultural awareness; (4) Focusing forward-considered their career intent, but now with a knowledge of rural health care context. The extended duration of placements enabled deeper immersion, reflective practice, and a broadened understanding of rural health contexts.
Conclusion:
Rural immersion placements offer transformative learning experiences that foster clinical competence, interprofessional collaboration, and rural career interest. Addressing structural barriers and enhancing rural job opportunities are essential to harnessing this intent and strengthening the rural allied health workforce.
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