Interprofessional Clinical Practice

Northern Health has been proactive in offering interprofessional education programs to students on professional placement with the health service.  In collaboration with LaTrobe University, we were funded by the Department of Human Services to develop and pilot an Interprofessional Clinical Education project. 

Inter-professional education has been defined as `occasions when two or more professions learn with, from and about each other to improve collaboration and the quality of care’ (CAIPE, 2002).

Interprofessional clinical education (IPCE) involves students from a range of disciplines who work and learn together, ideally sharing patients or participating in interprofessional workshops.  While international opinion generally supports teaching students together, current practice in Australia is dominated by single discipline placements conducted in relative isolation from student colleagues in other disciplines. 

At Northern Health we have developed innovative model for interprofessional clinical education and incorporate these learning activities into student placements whenever possible.  The availability of interprofessional opportunities whilst at Northern Health is often determined by the timing of placement blocks by the Universities. 

Interprofessional activities most commonly occur during some 3rd or 4th year placements for entry-level students and currently involve all allied health disciplines along with nursing and medical students.