Professional Experience Placement (PEP) provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their developing knowledge, skills and behaviour in a professional healthcare setting. It is a time for students to immerse themselves in the health professional culture; understand the diversity of health care teams, and to develop inter-professional relationships. Practising under the supervision of experienced staff, students will meet and provide care to a range of people in a variety of practice settings, developing your identity as a healthcare professional.
PEP dates are planned in conjunction with curriculum requirements and partner operational demands. Placement dates are scheduled at specified times each year and are not negotiable.
Preparing for PEP
Students will need to meet University of Tasmania Safety in Practice Compliance Requirements, as well as NSW Health and other partner compliance requirements prior to commencing placement.
Once new students have completed the enrolment process, a PEP Pack will be emailed to their University of Tasmania email address, detailing all the requirements that need completing prior to census date in Year 1.
More information is available on the College of Health and Medicine Compliance page.
Additionally, all students enrolled in the NSW Bachelor of Nursing program are required to meet NSW Health compliance requirements through the ClinConnect placement system. The NSW PEP Team will advise students when they are eligible to meet NSW Health ClinConnect compliance. More information is available via NSW Health Education and Training (HETI)
Other industry partners will have their own compliance requirements to be completed once students are allocated to that facility.
As placement approaches, students will receive information regarding each placement, including preference submission, placement locations and facility information. This information is provided via InPlace – student placement system.
PEP requires students to attend their allocated facility on a full time basis, which may include morning, afternoon, night duty and possibly weekends. Associated with this shift work, there may also be increased transportation costs, longer travel time and a decreased opportunity for students to undertake paid work. Changes may also need to be made to normal family routines during this time. Students will need to consider how they will manage their personal commitments throughout their placements.
PEP Supervision
There are two main modes of supervision in NSW for nursing students, preceptor only, and a combined preceptor/facilitator model.
During PEP, students always practice under the supervision of qualified health care professionals. Students will practice with ‘in house’ preceptors, who will mentor and guide them during PEP, assisting to expand developing practice and providing regular feedback throughout the placement. Where there is no facilitator, a preceptor or site educator will complete University of Tasmania documentation related to student assessment.
The majority of placement venues in NSW operate using a combined preceptor/facilitator model. At these sites, students will be allocated to a preceptor for each shift, as above, however a University of Tasmania Facilitator will ensure students are provided opportunities to meet the Intended Learning Outcomes of each placement. Facilitators liaise with the health care facility staff and will provide regular feedback to students regarding progress and will provide documented feedback to university staff.
Additionally, the NSW Fieldwork Coordinator will provide support to students, facility staff and facilitators to ensure students are provided the opportunity to demonstrate performance in practice.
Scholarships for PEP
Students should visit the University of Tasmania scholarship web page to review scholarships they may be eligible for.
NSW Health also provide scholarship opportunities to students undertaking placement in NSW via HETI.
The Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA) also offers advice, information and financial support for students.
Mandatory Training
Many of our industry partners are gradually introducing their own pre-placement mandatory training requirements. This is to manage risk and ensure students are aware of partner policy and procedural guidelines. Students allocated to NSW Health facilities will receive an email 13 days prior to placement detailing the NSW Health Mandatory Training Requirements
Information relating to other practice partners specific requirements will be provided closer to placement.
Ramsay Healthcare
Ramsay Healthcare requires students to complete their online learning via Undergradplus. Students allocated to Ramsay Healthcare facilities will be advised on how to complete these requirements closer to placement.
Sydney Course and Campus Information
Compliance and InPlace
All College of Health and Medicine students need to complete
Information on how to log in and upload your compliance documents
