As part of the Tasmanian Clinical Placement Partnership Project (TCPPP) funded by Health Workforce Australia, School of Pharmacy project lead Catherine Spiller and her team consisting of Lisa Crisp and Marika Castrisios executed free training workshops to Pharmacy preceptors from across Tasmania in Ulverstone, Launceston and Hobart during the month of June.
The overall goal of TCPPP is to "promote sustainable, effective placements for pharmacy students…across the state as a whole, primarily by supporting and up-skilling preceptors." As an initiative of the project, the Preceptor Workshops entitled 'Jack and the Beanstalk: Climbing the vine of skills' aimed to thank preceptors for their continued support over the many years of student placements at the School by offering free accredited CPD training. The workshops consisted of learning objectives which focussed on being a good preceptor, different learning styles of students, and cultural self-awareness.
The feedback was positive, identifying the event as a great networking opportunity for preceptors and a good platform for the School to talk informally with preceptors about their experiences - further strengthening the School's already strong ties. Over 60 pharmacists from a range of community pharmacies and hospitals attended across the state. Overwhelmingly, responses reflected positively on the learning objectives and their relevancy to preceptor practice.
As a unique initiative, these workshops highlighted the importance for the School to support its preceptors and the pharmacist workforce to ensure quality placement opportunities remain into the future.