• Three Rivers DRH lecturers conduct research on benefits of student placements for residents living in aged care facilities in Deniliquin and Finley

A student placement program in the Riverina is allowing Charles Sturt University academics to determine how to improve the wellbeing of residents living in aged care facilities. 

Two Charles Sturt University academics have collaborated with staff at Navorina Nursing Home, Southern Cross Care Orana and Finley Regional Care for research that creates placements that highlight rural aged care careers as an attractive and viable career option for graduate clinicians.

Deniliquin-based Clinical Educator and Lecturer in Rural Health with Charles Sturt’s Three Rivers Department of Rural Health (DRH) Ms Cassie Biggs and Associate Professor Elyce Green, from Wagga Wagga, are research leads on this project.

The project focuses on creating work-integrated placements for health students in residential aged care facilities with outreach to other agencies that provide aged care services.

The research will focus on the social and emotional impacts placing university students in aged care facilities can have from the perspective of the residents.

“Consultation with community members demonstrates that older people value social connectivity above all other care considerations,” Ms Biggs said.

“Health students in aged care have time and potential to create meaningful connections with residents.

“Evaluation of such placement programs often focuses on outcomes for students but there is limited literature focused on the residents’ experiences of students working and learning in these settings.”

The research is being conducted in facilities in Deniliquin, Finley and surrounding areas. Interviews will be conducted with the residents while considering the concepts of social and emotional wellbeing as reliant on connection, inclusivity and consultation.

The aim of the project is to help design new strategies to engage residents while students are on placement. By better understanding the residents’ perspectives, Ms Biggs said there might be scope to change the nature, duration and intention of student placement in aged care.

“This has potential to influence the types of social engagement activities offered in residential aged care,” she said.

“Research outcomes could positively influence students to elect aged care as a workplace learning and graduate career option.

“We have potential to improve the day-to-day lives of aged care residents by placing students in their aged care home.”

Ms Biggs said placements in aged care facilities are also beneficial for students, allowing them time to determine the type of clinician they want to be.

This research is part of the aged care expansion program under the federally-funded Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program, which aims to increase and improve recruitment and retention of healthcare providers to rural practice.

The research team consists of Ms Biggs and Professor Green from Three Rivers DRH, as well as Southern Cross Care Orana Regional Manager Ms Amanda Schofield and MEE Officer Mr Sunni Manning and Navorina Nursing Home Enrolled Nurse Ms Jayne Wilkins.