Resource Library

Simulated Learning Environment (SLE) integration and development project for the Loddon Mallee Region

This project established two rural hubs for simulated learning and established a program for delivering training at these sites (three days a week), at additional small rural health services (equivalent to two days per week) and to other interested health services and education providers (one day per week).

Simulation-based training and interprofessional education (STRIPE)

The project developed an overarching and virtual team approach in the western region (Melbourne West) and ensure a collaborative approach to simulated teaching and learning thereby improving the safety and quality across the continuum of care for patients in the west.

Small rural health service clinical supervision project

This project embedded learning cultures via elements of the Best Practice Clinical Learning Environments (BPCLE) Framework within small rural health services, aged care facilities and other not-for-profit providers. The project included the delivery of novice supervision training, an advanced mentor program, and opportunity for clinicians to upgrade from a Certificate IV TAA to TAE.

South Coast Interprofessional Clinical Supervision (SCICS) Program

This project conducted a coordinated supervision training program across three health services and five General Practice clinics in the South Gippsland region. It focussed on developing learning cultures within these organisations and also developed interprofessional learning opportunities and eLearning resources.

Stepping up expectations for clinical supervision in the northern region; a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach

This project delivered tiered supervision training that included an introductory program for novice supervisors as well as Teaching on the Run workshops. The project included train-the-trainer components and engaged with expanded settings, such as community health and aged care, to support clinical placements in previously underutilised areas.

Supervising the supervisors

This project used a self-efficacy framework to identify staff in need of additional supervision training and support as well as delivered training to supervisors with low self-efficacy, and introduced workplace learning opportunities for further support and feedback.

Supervisor Training and Education Program (STEP)

This project delivered an interprofessional clinical supervision training and education program and a 12 month evaluation to determine its longer-term impact upon clinical placement capacity and quality. A train-the-trainer/mentoring program was established, existing eLearning resources were enhanced and formal research was undertaken to determine the benefits of the program for clinical supervisors and its applicability across Victoria.

Sustainable simulation in a patient safety framework

This project included the delivery of online simulation-based education and training (SBET) modules from the Patient Safety Education Framework, alongside the development of a centralised system to coordinate access to SBET equipment and resources across the Southern Metropolitan CPN.

The interprofessional student-led clinic: Supporting older people after discharge from acute hospital admissions

This project implemented an entry-level and interprofessional student-led clinic at Peninsula Health Community Rehabilitation Centre, delivering services to recently discharged (acute) aged patients in the Mornington Peninsula CPN. Attendance consisted of mixed-discipline teams of two to four final-year students from dietetics, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, social work and speech pathology (78 students in total); these teams were supervised by two educators. After conducting a gap analysis, the project sought to address a service delivery and workforce need within the CPN and investigate the viability and sustainability of student-led clinics, in addition to providing clinical placement opportunities to students.

The Victorian Simulated Patient Network (VSPN)

The project develops an educational toolkit including DVD simulations and activity-based workshops for clinical supervisors, focussing on communication with students in a variety of circumstances. The purpose of the workshops is to refresh knowledge and translate that knowledge into clinical education practice.

Trialling an online clinical supervision education program

The Victorian Simulated Patient Network (VSPN) is an online network with supporting resources, for people with a special interest in simulated patient (SP) methodology. Online modules have been developed to support the uptake and quality assurance of SP practice amongst simulation educators, clinicians, program administrators and SPs, and to provide guidance for working with SPs in health and social care professional education. Resources include illustrations of SPs at work, scenarios, educational frameworks to support SP-based education, and links to key publications.

Undergraduate medical and nursing placements in primary care settings, specifically general practices (including after-hours services)

This project developed capacity for general practice clinical placements in the former Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local (IEMML) catchment area. The project introduced a dedicated Clinical Placement Support Officer and included a strong focus on communication and partnership building. The project also explored the use of an after-hours GP clinic for student placements.

Using a 3D simulated environment to enhance patient care and communication skills of radiation therapy students and health care practitioners in a cancer care setting

The project develops high quality three-dimensional (3D) simulated learning resources on patient communication for participating professions engage medical radiations and sonography practitioners on the use of simulated learning resources via a collaborative statewide approach.

Using simulation for multidisciplinary learning opportunities

This project developed clinical skills, communication and teamwork through multidisciplinary simulated training sessions.

Whole-of-system placements for professional-entry students from medicine, nursing and allied health

This project developed and piloted a Whole-of-System clinical placement (WoSSP) model for professional-entry students from medicine, nursing and allied health disciplines in the Mount Alexander Shire of Victoria. The objectives were to improve the efficiency and quality of placements for students in smaller rural health services and provide a mechanism for interprofessional learning and systems-based health education. Structured clinical learning experiences were designed to enable students to interact with patients with complex, chronic health conditions, as they journeyed through the local health system. The project was based at Castlemaine Health and involved health professional students from Monash and La Trobe Universities.

Sustainability blueprint, tools and templates

The Sustainability blueprint has been prepared to assist project leads and their organisations to develop sustainability plans to optimise the use of assets for clinical placement programs. The blueprint provides an overarching framework for organisations to use in the design of their sustainability plans, taking a step-by-step approach that begins with an assessment of the project’s external and internal environments, provides guidance on cost optimisation and revenue enhancement, and concludes with an outline of some specific actions (strategies) for achieving financial sustainability. The blueprint contains information on the sustainability challenge and methods and tools to assist lead organisations to respond to the uncertainty of their funded projects. Accompanying the blueprint is a worked case study and a range of templates and tools designed to provide hands-on practical assistance to project leads and organisations as they develop their sustainability plans.

Multidiscipline care plan consultation for an adult with cognitive and communication impairment

An interprofessional scenario was written by La Trobe University with the aim to involve simulated patients who have an underlying intellectual disability with a group of undergraduate students from various health science professions. Bringing students together in an interprofessional scenario is important to develop teamwork and communication skills, readying students for clinical practice.

Our intention is to build awareness and knowledge of treating people with intellectual disabilities. Having students converse with people with genuine underlying disabilities and previous experience of health care systems as simulated patients enables an authentic experience for learners.