IPE Annual report 2012 - Health Sciences - Curtin University

Upper Limb Therapy Clinic (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy students); the Speech Stuttering Clinic (Speech Pathology
working with Nursing and Occupational Therapy students); Brownlie Towers Student-led Health and Wellness Program (Nursing,
Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, Social Work who were joined by Podiatry students from UWA); and the GP
Health and Wellness Clinic at Juniper Rowethorpe focused on medication management reviews (Pharmacy students working with
Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy students). The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) clinic, run on
campus by clinical staff from the South Metropolitan Health Service, demonstrated interprofessional team care by a respiratory
physician, nurse and physiotherapist. Curtin students attended the COPD clinics in an observational capacity. The third key
learning experience was the on campus Wound Education Centre. This involved a nurse educator presenting case studies (paper
based and/or clients) and engaging students from different disciplines in discussing their role in management. Plans for a
refurbishment of Building 404 in 2013 have been completed and will include a central reception, additional clinics and flexible
spaces to support interprofessional case discussions and activities.
4.1.8 Mid-West IPE Program
This program was piloted in 2012 following lengthy negotiations between the various partner organisations: Curtin University, the
Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health, the Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, and other partner agencies
including the school in Mt Magnet. The program, based in Geraldton and Mount Magnet provided a placement for students from
physiotherapy, speech pathology, pharmacy, health promotion and dietetics. A diverse range of health service related projects
focusing on rural and remote Aboriginal Health were undertaken by Curtin students including:
Aboriginal health promotion e.g. developing health promotion messages for radio
Remote chronic disease primary prevention e.g. health education in remote schools
Regional and remote aged care programs
Remote primary school programs e.g. personal development and resilience
Community child development program support e.g. resource and workshop planning
This program will continue in 2013.
4.1.9 WACHS Albany Mental Health & Geraldton Subacute Programs
The Mental Health program is based in Albany with the Great Southern Mental Health Service. The placement offers the
opportunity for Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Nursing students to work within an interprofessional team
service delivery model supported by a dedicated Clinical Educator. The students provide essential community and inpatient-based
specialist mental health services as well as participate in student led initiatives including a project with the local Consumer Action
Group and engaged with primary mental health programs (such as Mental Health First Aid, Day in the Shed and Pit Stop). A more
fulsome description of this program can be found in the report ‘WACHS Albany Mental Health Program Report 2012’.
The Sub acute program is based in Geraldton. Students from occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology and nursing
work within several settings including the Day Therapy Unit, Community Rehabilitation and the Early Supported Stroke Discharge
Program. A diverse range of learning experiences are provided such as comprehensive assessment, care planning and case
management of frail aged inpatient and outpatients, exposure to the continence clinic and exercise, cooking and cognitive groups,
supervision of therapy assistants, and community based multidisciplinary stroke rehabilitation.
Both of these valuable WACHS programs will continue in 2013.
4.1.10 Alzheimer’s Association of WA (AAWA)
AAWA are building a new on-campus facility within the next couple of years which will ensure a long term, sustainable partnership
between Curtin and AAWA. Funded by Health Workforce Australia students from Occupational Therapy (34), Physiotherapy (3),
Counseling Psychology (1) and Nursing (2) completed a placement in 2012. A review meeting was held in December with staff
generally positive about the placement program thus far. Plans are underway for 2013 with Curtin staff working with AAWA to fill
all of the available placements.
4.1.11 North Metropolitan Older Adult Mental Health (NMOAMH)
Curtin students from Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Social Work and Nursing completed placements
at NMOAMH in 2012. A formal review meeting was held in late November. Many aspects of the program were reported to be very
positive but issues were raised with regards to several factors including the consequences of the very short placements for
nursing students, and the lack of understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the various staff involved. All feedback from
patients or their relatives has been positive, and relatives have reported viewing NMOAMH as a more professional organisation
as a result of its association with the University(s). The general sense was that the students have provided significant stimulation
within the organisation. NMOMAH has been successful in attracting further funding including $100,000 to renovate the student's
room at the Osborne Park facility.
The interprofessional practice placements were evaluated using an online survey. A vers small number of studetns completed this
survey and a sample of the responses is provided in Table 10, overleaf. The complete results are available in the ‘Student
Evaluation of Interprofessional Practice Placement Program in 2012’ report.