Common challenges faced by students on their work placements include time management, stress, adapting to new environments and cultural differences. Good self-care is central to managing some of these challenges. I’m seeking input from educators who supervise placement-based topics to collect reflections and advice from students who have successfully navigated their placements, which will be included in upcoming presentations and guides.
Recently, I gave a presentation to Education students who are about to go on their first big teaching placement. I’m grateful to Linda for inviting me to speak, and if you’re curious, you can check out the attached slides.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to speak to students in various disciplines, such as occupational therapy (OT), dietetics, and education. While each placement has its unique challenges, there are common themes, such as time and stress management, achieving competence, joining a new team, managing finances, and adapting to cultural differences.
In my presentation, I emphasized the importance of self-care that are helpful before, during, and after placement. These strategies are drawn from various sources, including psychological practices, conversations with supervisors, and personal experiences.
However, I feel that something is missing.
At an OT placement preparation session I attended, past students who had graduated came to share their experiences and advice. Their brief but practical insights resonated with the audience, and I believe it was due to the relatability of their experiences.
While I cannot replicate the familiarity of former students, I can provide practical advice to current students based on the experiences of their peers. If you supervise a placement-based topic, I’m interested in learning about any reflections that students have shared about their successful navigation of placements. What strategies did they find helpful, and what advice could they offer to students who are about to embark on their placement journey?
If you have any insights to share, I would love to hear from you. You can reach me at gareth.furber@flinders.edu.au or find me on Teams. My goal is to incorporate the practical advice of current students into my “Preparing for Placement” presentations and guide to help others thrive during their placements.
[post edited by chatGPT]