Wangaratta Region Service Learning Information
Belvoir Special School
Belvoir Special School provides a specialised educational service to the community of Wodonga and surrounding districts. Situated in a purpose-built facility, Belvoir seeks to promote in all its students a positive attitude towards learning and seeks to provide a foundation in skills, knowledge, attitudes and values that will allow students to achieve their optimum level of independence.
Belvoir partnered with GRH in 2022 to implement a student led physiotherapy (PT) service through small group and individual interventions. Belvoir provides a multidisciplinary allied health team service, and PT students make a valuable contribution to this service delivery and holistic approach.
Please email our placements team at Going Rural Health (Wangaratta) for placement coordination information.
Location
This placement is based in Wodonga, Vic.
Placement details
Students are required to undertake a range of tasks whilst on placement. In the initial stages of placement there is a focus on classroom observation, and staff consultation, to enable students to understand the needs of the students and school. As the placement progresses PT students undertake a variety of practical tasks including assessment, goal setting, intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, resource development, and intervention/program evaluation.
Whilst on placement at Belvoir, PT students work with children aged from 5 years- 18 year with intellectual and/ or multiple disabilities, and are tasked with management of an existing caseload, as well as assessment and goal setting. PT students work closely with the multidisciplinary allied health team at Belvoir, as well as more broadly with educational staff.
Physiotherapy students have the opportunity to work in a team-based environment focussed on evidence-based assessment and intervention services to support children with disabilities. This placement has a strong focus on peer assisted learning, interprofessional learning, and sustainable approaches to practice. A range of additional opportunities exist for PT students undertaking this placement such as the opportunity to facilitate Aquatic Therapy program, opportunity to attend cultural awareness training and involvement in a range of other activities that will support learning and clinical practice engagement.
Positive feedback has been received from all stakeholders involved in this placement model as to the service benefits for Belvoir, as well as the depth and range of learning opportunities for students undertaking this placement.
This placement opportunity is typically suited to PT students in their final years of study due to the long arm supervision structure, as well as the level of competence required by students to competently and safely complete this placement.
This placement opportunity is available for two students, per block.
To be eligible for this placement, students must meet our eligibility criteria. Please refer to our eligibility page for more information.
Due to the school-based nature of this placement site, placements need to occur during the Victorian terms.
Supervision
Support is offered via a collaborative supervision model. The Going Rural Health team assists in preliminary coordination of the placements. Long arm supervision is provided by a PT supervisor who works closely with Belvoir staff and universities to ensure high quality clinical supervision. Operational support is provided by Belvoir’s interprofessional team.
Compliance
A valid Working With Children’s Check (WWCC) is required for this placement
Accommodation
UoM accommodation is not available for this placement.
Financial support for accommodation may be available via our program. Eligibility criteria does apply, please see eligibility for further details.
Accommodation may be available at La Trobe University- Wodonga, please contact lalreservations@latrobe.edu.au for more information.
Wangaratta District Specialist School
Wangaratta District Specialist School (WDSS) is a government-funded educational institution in Wangaratta, Victoria, catering to students aged 5 to 18 with mild to severe intellectual and associated disabilities. The school offers a supportive and inclusive learning environment, providing personalized learning plans for each student, developed collaboratively by teachers and parents. WDSS aims to foster independence and community participation through a curriculum that emphasizes life skills, social development, and academic achievement.
WDSS began its partnership with Going Rural Health in 2020. WDSS did not have a physiotherapist on staff at the time and the school identified this gap in the school service for their students. Placement opportunities have been expanded to include occupational therapy, speech pathology and nursing students.
Currently, placement opportunities exist in occupational therapy.
Please email our placements team at Going Rural Health (Wangaratta) for placement coordination information.
Location
This placement is located in Wangaratta, Vic.
Placement details
Allied health students attend five days a week working with the students face to face either individually or in small groups. Students provide an educational presentation to the staff and create resources for staff to implement within the school environment.
Allied health students work with parents, staff, and students aged between 5-18 years old across the school. Allied health students work with WDSS students that have been identified by the allied health team and school staff that are needing support.
Occupational Therapy students have the opportunity to work in a team-based environment focused on evidence-based assessment and intervention services to support children with disabilities. This placement has a strong focus on peer assisted learning and interprofessional learning. A range of additional opportunities exist for students undertaking this placement such as the opportunity to attend cultural awareness training and involvement in a range of other activities that will support learning and clinical practice engagement.
Due to the on-site nature of supervision, placement opportunities for occupational therapy exist in 1st, 3rd and 4th year (or equivalent) students. In the past, placements at WDSS are typically appropriate for 3rd and 4th year , or equivalent, speech pathology and physiotherapy students, due to the placement involving external long-arm and the students requiring a level of independence to complete the placement confidently and safely. Placements for Nursing Students are best suited for 1st year students
This placement opportunity is available for two students, per block.
To be eligible for this placement, students must meet GRH’s eligibility criteria. Please refer to our eligibility page for more information.
Due to the school-based nature of this placement site, placements need to occur during the Victorian terms.
Supervision
Support is offered via a collaborative supervision model. The Going Rural Health team assists in preliminary coordination of the placements. On-site supervision is provided by WDSS’s occupational therapist.
Broader support is provided by WDSS’s interprofessional team.
Compliance
A valid Working With Children’s Check (WWCC) is required for this placement.
Accommodation
UoM accommodation is available for this placement in Wangaratta or Benalla, see our accommodation options here:
Should you have any queries surrounding the accommodation, please don’t hesitate to contact our accommodation team.
St Catherine's Hostel
St Catherine’s Hostel is a not-for-profit residential care facility who’s goal is to create an environment of care, respect and wellbeing for the community of Wangaratta and surrounding districts. Situated in a purpose-built facility, St Catherine’s provides permanent aged care, respite and palliative care to an exceptional standard and holds an excellent reputation in the community with long wait lists for this facility. St Catherine’s model of care offers more preventative care to reduce hospitalisation and works with a nurse practitioner to collaborate with residents GP’s, specialists and families to ensure person centered, quality care. This facility offers students an excellent learning opportunity and seeks to provide a foundation in skills, knowledge, attitudes and values that will allow students to achieve their goals.
St Catherine’s recently partnered with GRH in 2024 to host nursing, occupational therapy (OT) and speech pathology (SP) students. St Catherine’s residents have diverse needs, many of which benefit greatly from the service learning model that provides person centred care from students overseen by OT and Speech supervisors which otherwise would not be provided. This model is a great example of how service learning can have wonderful outcomes from the consumer and student providing the service. Students make a valuable contribution to this service delivery and use a holistic approach to deliver evidence-based interventions and capacity building initiatives.
Please email our placements team at Going Rural Health (Wangaratta) for placement coordination information.
Location
This placement is based in Wangaratta, Vic.
Placement details
Student placement models vary between traditional placement models for nursing students and service learning models for OT and SP students.
Nursing students are allocated a registered nurse supervisor who is employed by St Catherine’s. The students will work alongside this nurse and glean knowledge from an experienced nurse who is familiar with facility processes and policies. This nurse will supervise, mentor and assess students using University assessment tools based on nursing standards for practice.
Whilst on placement at St Catherine’s, students work with residents, community members using respite care and palliate services. Students are tasked with management of an existing care needs, as well as assessment and goal setting. Students work closely with the multidisciplinary team of nurses, personal care attendants, nurse practitioners, activities coordinators and doctors who work as team at St Catherine’s, as well as more broadly with management and staff.
Occupational therapy, speech pathology and physiotherapy students have the opportunity to work in a team-based environment focused on evidence-based care.
This placement has a strong focus on peer assisted learning, interprofessional learning, and sustainable approaches to practice. A range of additional opportunities exist for students undertaking this placement such as the opportunity to support resident activities, including a visiting intergenerational program and falls prevention initiatives.
Positive feedback has been received from all stakeholders involved in this placement model as to the service benefits for St Catherine’s, as well as the depth and range of learning opportunities for students undertaking this placement.
Traditional placement opportunities exist at this site for nursing students.
This placement opportunity is typically suited to occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy students in their final two years of study.
This placement opportunity is available for two students, per block.
To be eligible for this placement, students must meet our eligibility criteria. Please refer to our eligibility page for more information.
Supervision
Support is offered via a collaborative supervision model. The Going Rural Health team assists in preliminary coordination of the placements. For physiotherapy placements, discipline specific supervision is provided by St Catherines’ physiotherapist. For occupational therapy and speech pathology placements, long arm supervision is provided by an external supervisor who works closely with staff and universities to ensure high quality clinical supervision.
Broader support is provided by St Catherine’s interprofessional team
Compliance
A valid police check and flu vaccination is required for this placement.
Accommodation
UoM accommodation is available for this placement in Wangaratta or Benalla, see our accommodation options here:
Should you have any queries surrounding the accommodation, please don’t hesitate to contact our accommodation team.
Myrtleford P-12 College
Myrtleford P-12 College provides education to over 400 students aged 5-18 years of age. The College is in the rural town of Myrtleford in North East Victoria. The town has a population of 3,000.
Myrtleford P-12 partnered with GRH Mental Health project in 2023 to enhance their Wellbeing team with small group and individual OT interventions. The allied health students are supported by the passionate Wellbeing team, to develop and support students to achieve their best in the school environment.
Currently, placement opportunities exist in occupational therapy.
Please email our placements team at Going Rural Health (Wangaratta) for placement coordination information.
Placement Details
| Occupational therapy students experience the role of a school occupational therapist within a rural state school setting. OT students provide discipline-specific support to students aged 5-15 years old, in groups and individually to promote positive mental health and wellbeing strategies. The placement starts with observation, and builds to assessments, and implementation of therapy supports as the placement progresses. Students work alongside the wellbeing staff to provide support, recommendations and resources to promote sustainability of therapy support for students.
This placement opportunity is typically suited to OT students in their final years of study due to the long arm supervision structure, as well as the level of competence required by students to competently and safely complete this placement. This placement opportunity is available for two students, per block. To be eligible for this placement, students must meet our eligibility criteria. Please refer to our eligibility page for more information. Due to the school-based nature of this placement site, placements need to occur during the Victorian terms.
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Supervision
Long arm supervision is provided by an external an occupational therapist. The school’s wellbeing team and lead teacher provides day-to-day support and guidance. We provide placement coordination and mentoring support for students.
Compliance
A valid Working With Children’s Check (WWCC) is required for this placement.
Accommodation
UoM accommodation is available for this placement in Myrtleford, see our accommodation options here:
Should you have any queries surrounding the accommodation, please don’t hesitate to contact our accommodation team.