Media releases

Federation University Australia is a critical supporter of healthcare with thousands of new graduates entering the sector each year and supporting healthcare providers during their placements.

Federation’s impact on the health sector in regional, rural, and metropolitan areas across Victoria is significant, with over 2600 university and TAFE students on placement in 2024 across disciplines including Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychology and Speech Pathology.

These placements not only help support communities spanning the state, but also provide graduates with invaluable hands-on experience supporting patients in fast-paced work environments.

Third-year Bachelor of Nursing student, Rebecca De Bruyn has completed placements in several public and private healthcare facilities including specialities in rehabilitation, adolescent mental health, paediatrics, and theatre. She also travelled to Benapa, Nepal for placement at the Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital as part of a group of 20 Federation students in September.

“Nepal was an incredible trip and learning opportunity” says De Bruyn.

“One of the biggest benefits was learning about cultural differences, how to communicate with people through language barriers, how health systems work in developing countries, and how healthcare is managed with limited resources,” she added.

Speaking of her experience studying at Federation University, De Bruyn explains, “During my studies with Federation I have had great lecturers, excellent clinical labs to learn in, and I've met some lifelong friends. The placements have given me hands-on experience in consolidating theory to practice in a real-world setting. I plan on working in paediatric and neonatal care in the future and hope to continue my studies doing a post-grad in Midwifery.”

Federation has forged partnerships with key health providers throughout Victoria and interstate including East Grampians Health Service, Grampians Health, Bass Coast Health, Latrobe Regional Health, West Gippsland Health Service, Ballarat Community Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Royal Flying Doctors, and Barwon Health.

Placements take place in a variety of settings including hospitals, aged care homes, schools, clinics, community health care centres and private providers in locations from Horsham and Stawell in the west of the state, to Ballarat and the Central Highlands, Geelong, Goulburn Valley, Melbourne, and throughout Gippsland.

Quote attributable to Federation University Australia Executive Dean, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, Professor Remco Polman

“Federation University Australia is proud of the partnerships we have with healthcare providers across the state, which help support this critical service for our communities. Clinical placements provide our students with real world practical learning opportunities which are hard to reproduce in the classroom or through simulation, and bridges the theory learned in the classroom with practice to provide a holistic approach to developing technical and soft skills and interactions with patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Clinical placements provide the student with instant feedback, fosters confidence and networking opportunities for future employment.”