Pathways to Rural Private Practice, the Barriers and Enablers to Providing Clinical Placements.
Joyti Zwar1 1University Of South Australia Department Of Rural Health, Whyalla, South Australia, Australia
Abstract
There is an increasing demand for allied health clinical placements (Barker et al 2009, Dean et Al, 2009, Williams et Al, 2007). With health reforms such as the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) there are new opportunities for employment directly into rural private practice settings. Only a small number of students have the opportunity to undertake a private practice placement. Dean et al (2009) found that in NSW 58.6% of physiotherapists were working in private practice but only 14% of placements were private practice based. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this proportion has not changed significantly, particularly in rural practice.
In partnership with the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (SA) the University of South Australia Department of Rural Health conducted a project aimed at examining barriers and enablers to rural private practice placements from the student, allied health practitioner and University perspectives.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with allied health practitioners working in a rural private practice to discuss experiences and attitudes to hosting clinical placements, including successful recruitment as a result.
Thematic analysis was performed and several key barriers were identified from a practice perspective including cost, time and lack of infrastructure for students. Enablers included recruitment opportunity, staff retention and giving back to the profession.
Students embarking on a rural private practice placement participated through pre and post-placement questionnaire. Students felt well supported prior to placement within rural private practices access to accommodation and information about the location supported this. Prior to placement 35% of students were considering rural private practice as an option for employment, increasing to 50% post rural placement.
A range of recommendations such as the development of a support package that includes mentoring, networking opportunities and financial incentives were identified as enablers to ensure quality placements that enhance student experience in rural private practice.
Biography
Joyti Zwar has over 20 years experience as a rural physiotherapist across Australia and NZ. She is currently a Rural Health Academic with University of South Australia’s Department of Rural Health.
She has a passion for interprofessional education, rural health and supporting early career health professionals transition to rural practice. She currently supports interprofessional clinical placements at University of South Australia’s rural health clinic.